New Zealand's most awarded winery, Villa Maria Estate, has had another international triumph this month, beating hundreds of top competitors to take the title of 'New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year' at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London.

Sacred Hill Wines has been awarded a Trophy and Gold medal for its 2007 Brokenstone Merlot at Hawkes Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine awards 2009. The 2007 vintage also took out Best Sustainable Wine of the Show.

Story chronicles an American journalist's vivid account of a year in Marlborough wine country