No.1 Family Estate, New Zealand's only wine producer focussing exclusively on the production of Methode Traditionnelle, has been awarded a gold medal and the trophy for best New Zealand Sparkling wine for their Cuvee Number 8 at the International Wine Challenge 2012. This comes after another gold medal awarded earlier in the year at the 2012 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards in Auckland.

The International Wine Challenge is held in London and carries the tag line 'Probably the largest wine competition in the world'. The event judges thousands of wines each year in an attempt to provide the consumer with a definitive guide to the quality of wines available on the UK market.

Judges included some of the UK's leading wine commentators such as Tim Atkin MW, Oz Clarke, Charles Metcalfe, Sam Harrop MW, Derek Smedley MW and Peter McCombie MW.

Commenting on the trophy, No. 1 Family Estate proprietor and winemaker Daniel Le Brun said, "We are delighted to receive this award. I brought the tradition from France to Marlborough 32 years ago and to see the Cuvee Number 8 win this trophy is truly gratifying - a testament to the wine, my belief in Marlborough and its continued potential for Methode Traditionelle production and also to my heritage."

Judges at the International Wine Challenge described the wine as, 'Fresh flowers and apple nose leading into a lemony palate that develops delicious, biscuity depth. Classy stuff.'

Cuvee Number 8 is a classical blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and carries many of the traditional characteristics found in fine Champagne.