Pinot Noir 2010 winery, Wooing Tree, has scooped the pool at the inaugural Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition. Not only did its 2007 Pinot Noir win Best New World Pinot, it also won the South China Morning Post trophy for Best (overall) Pinot Noir.

"The win was richly deserved," said Competition Director and judge, Simon Tam.

"New Zealand Pinot Noir is simply going from strength to strength and I am looking forward to being a speaker and panellist at Pinot Noir 2010 in New Zealand in February next year," he said.

Over 1,300 wines were entered in the competition with 120 of these being Pinot Noir.

And along with Wooing Tree, 20 other Pinot Noir 2010 wineries also won medals at the event. [Editor's note full list below with links to competition website]

"This is simply a fantastic result and really shows the strength of our offering in this part of the world," says Pinot Noir 2010 Chair and Villa Maria Group Winemaker, Alastair Maling MW.

"And with China now our fourth largest Pinot Noir market the trophies and medals take on a special significance," he said.

The 21 wineries who won medals and trophies will all be at Pinot Noir 2010 in February next year. Pinot Noir 2010 is New Zealand's most significant international wine event bringing together New Zealand's top 100+ Pinot producers with up to 400 of the most internationally significant wine critics, commentators and trade.

"Pinot Noir is one of the most challenging wines to make and we are blessed in New Zealand with having the combination of terroir and winemakers with the passion to make some of the best in the world.

"Pinot Noir 2010 is a celebration of this," says Alastair.