On Saturday (3rd September) the team from Cumulus Estate Wines left the cool-climate of Orange NSW and travelled to the even cooler climate of Auckland, New Zealand to collect a Trophy at the 2011 New Zealand International Wine Show Awards Dinner for the new Rolling Rose.
2011 Rolling Rose ~ Best Rose 2011 New Zealand International Wine Show
This is a very big achievement for a wine which sells for around just $17, in a truly 'International' competition, with wines from any country and made from any variety entered.
The New Zealand International Wine Show is firmly established as the largest wine competition held in New Zealand each year, and hosts an impressive 24 senior wine judges, under the leadership of Bob Campbell MW, over 3 days of hotly-contested competition.
The judges picked up on what winemaker Debbie Lauritz has always loved about this wine, "The Rolling Pink is made using one of our greatest assets, stunning cool-climate shiraz. Shiraz from the Central Ranges wine region has that wonderful balance of bright, primary fruit and spiciness. By picking early and in cool conditions, it's ideal for crafting a vibrant, drier styled rosé, which still holds our regions distinctive character.
In particular the new 2011 vintage showcases the quality of our fruit as the slightly lower than average temperatures during the season gave us slow ripening emphasising the level and brightness of flavour and encouraging high levels of natural acidity right up to harvest."
Earlier ripening Shiraz from block 51 was chosen for the Pink. Low cropping and careful canopy management produced grapes that combine a lively acidity with desirable lifted berry characters. Whole berries were left on the skins for 16 hours and the grapes were then lightly pressed and the free run juice drained off, aiming for flavour with optimum colour levels but without too much tannin pick-up.
This trip to New Zealand is a well earned break for the Cumulus winemaking team, who have worked hard since the last grapes of the 2011 vintage were picked on 6th May to hand-craft wines true to Rolling's bright, fruit-driven style and created (according to the 2011 New Zealand International Wine Show judges) one of the best rosés on the market.
Only the 4th vintage of this wine, it has made a real impact already having collected a total of 3 Trophies and 28 medals since first release – giving Beatrice (the young lady on the Rolling label riding the bicycle and proudly wearing the scarf of the local Orange Emus football team) something else to smile about!
The 2011 Rolling Pink will be available for tasting over the next few weeks and released to the public this Summer. Perfect for Christmas BBQs or those forward planning for Valentine's Day.
If you would like to request a sample bottle please contact:
Alex Burgener, Palate PR, P: 0404 900 961 E: alexburgener@palatepr.com.au
Current Rolling wines:
Rolling Rosé 2011 Rolling Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2011
Rolling Chardonnay 2009 Rolling Cabernet Merlot 2009
Rolling Shiraz 2009 Rolling Sparkling Pinot Grigio Chardonnay 2010
Stockists
Distributed by Cumulus Wines. Available nationally though independent liquor stores – RRP $17.95
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