Gibbston Valley Winery has been named Aotearoa Organic Wine Awards’ Riedel Organic Winery of the Year, the second successive year a Central Otago winery has scooped the award.

Winemakers Christopher Keys and Sascha Herbert, and their vineyard team, led by Grant Rolston and Gary Ford, have been working over the past 13 years to transition Gibbston Valley Winery and vineyards to Biogro Certified Organic status.

Keys says their vision is to create delicious wines within a process that cares about the vines and environment.

‘‘We’re proud of all the producers in Central heading down this pathway.

“We’ve had a lot of encouragement and support on the way, and we see this as just a small part of a really important process.

‘‘We don’t think about it as a departure from the norm, but the norm itself.’’

Along with the champion vineyard award, Gibbston Valley’s China Terrace pinot noir 2021 was named champion pinot noir, its School House pinot gris 2021 picked up champion pinot gris, and the vineyard won gold awards for its Red Shed pinot noir 2021, Glenlee pinot noir 2021 and China Terrace chardonnay 2021.

Keys: ‘‘Who would have thought 10 years ago that a 12.5% Bendigo wine, built on fragrance and elegance, would be champion pinot noir?’’

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