Multi-award winning Tasman winemaker Daniel Schwarzenbach of Blackenbrook Vineyard has scored another impressive industry accolade by winning a gold medal and the trophy for Best Gewürztraminer at the prestigious annual Bragato Wine Awards held in Napier last night (subs 27 August).
This is the fifth ‘best wine in class’ award at a national competition for the family owned and run vineyard and it cements Blackenbrook’s reputation for producing outstanding aromatic wines.
Bragato Wine Awards are noteworthy because they recognise the grape grower rather than the vineyard and are awarded by fellow viticulturalists.
“We put our heart and soul into our wines,” said Daniel Schwarzenbach speaking from Germany where he is currently judging wine at the Mundus Vini International Wine Awards. “Accolades such as the Bragato trophy tell us that we are achieving something really special here. We are humbled by this recognition from our peers.”
Producing beautiful Gewürztraminer is the realisation of a long-cherished dream for the Schwarzenbachs. “Before starting our vineyard I worked as a cellar hand for Alsace’s Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, one of the top Gewürztraminer producers worldwide,” said Daniel. “It was a fantastic experience and I couldn’t wait to get home to our patch of Tasman paradise to start planting our own aromatics.”
Ursula Schwarzenbach said that achieving another national award is a very proud moment for a small vineyard in a very competitive industry. “Gewürztraminer is a variety that we have been working really hard on and it’s very exciting to see that our work is paying off in the glass.”
