- 5 stars O:TU - renowned Australian wine merchant (JUN 09)
- Pay what you think your meal's worth at Bondi's Sobo Bistro! (MAY 09)
- O:TU growth spurs new GM appointment (MAR 09)
- O:TU Declared Sustainable Vineyard (JAN 09)
- Top UK independent retailers now stocking O:TU (FEB 09)
- O:TU @ Gordon Ramsay's 'Taste of Christmas,' London (DEC 08)
- O:TU tops NZ Sauvignon Blancs (DEC 08)
- Aussie's Huon Hooke rates O:TU 93 pts (NOV 08)
- O:TU to land in the UK (OCT 08)
- Bob Campbell, NZ MW, rates O:TU 90 pts (SEP 08)
- O:TU now available in Australia (JUL 08)
- O:TU in Ireland for summer (JUN 08)
- O:TU harvest 08 : stellar quality, yields down (APR 08)
- Golden Easter for O:TU (MAR 08)
- More international gold for O:TU (NOV 07)
- O:TU 2006 solo gold medal winner in intl show (AUG 07)
- Superb harvest for O:TU 2007 vintage (MAY 07)
- One of Marlborough's freshest savvies yet released (NOV 06)

5 stars for O:TU from renowned Victorian wine merchant
O:TU is HOT right now with Nicks Wine Merchants in Victoria, Australia. To check out the review and arrange a delivery from Nicks direct, click on this link.

Pay what you think your meal's worth at Bondi's Sobo Bistro!
Sobo Bistro in Bondi is one of many Sydney restaurants hit hard by the economic downturn but imaginative restaurateur Adam Gerondis is tackling the issue head on - giving diners the chance to pay whatever they want for their meals!

The initiative has not only got Bondi locals and Sydney-ites flocking in but has attracted worldwide attention - see what Reuters had to say

So if you're in Sydney swing in to Sobo for an exceptional dinner at an exceptional price - and grab a glass or bottle of O:TU while you're there.

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O:TU growth spurs new GM appointment
After three vintages of expansion, Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc producer O:TU and its sister vineyard company Otuwhero Estate Wines Ltd have appointed Nigel Palmer as General Manager, based in Christchurch.

Responsible for the overall management of the operation with an oversight of activity in all markets, Nigel will work closely with Antonia Davison (International Marketing & Sales Manager) who has helped develop the company’s 10 or so export markets to date, along with other members of the O:TU team.

Nigel says his focus is on providing the structure, direction and sales strategies to take O:TU to its next levels of development and beyond.

"The company has very ambitious growth objectives and I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to achieving these goals and developing the brand to its full potential" he says.

Existing Directors John McLaughlan, Michael Davison and Graham Smith, and Partner Andrew McLatchie will continue to have key advisory roles.

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O:TU Declared Sustainable Vineyard
O:TU and Otuwhero Estate Wines Ltd are excited to announce the Sustainable Wine New Zealand (SWNZ) audit recently confirmed it’s vineyard practices and record keeping met the SWNZ standards and show that O:TU is clearly committed to the programme.

As the company continues its vineyard development in the Otuwhero area of Marlborough’s Awatere Valley, only very high standards of sustainable practices will be adopted. The 2009 vintage is drawing near, with fruit ripening well and due for harvest in early April.

For more information please see the New Zealand Sustainable Winegrowers website http://www.nzwine.com/swnz, or contact the O:TU office +64 3 379 6808.

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Top UK independent retailers now stocking O:TU (FEB 09)
After launching into the UK market just in time for Christmas, O:TU is now available through the following top independent retailers:

Noel Young Wines - PH: +44 (0) 1223 566 744
Amps Fine Wines - PH +44 (0) 1832 273 502
The Sampler - PH: +44 (0) 207 226 9500

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O:TU is imported into the UK by Catalyst Wine Services.

O:TU live @ Gordon Ramsay's 'Taste of Christmas' in London (DEC 08)
O:TU is making a splash at London's Excel centre this weekend - check out stand D7A for a free sample and to purchase some of the very first O:TU available in the UK.

Track down our roaming photographer and check back later to our HOME page to download your very own free 'Taste of Christmas' photo!

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O:TU tops NZ Sauvignon Blancs (DEC 08)
O:TU Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 received the Runner-Up Sauvignon Blanc Trophy at the Winestate Wine of the Year awards held in Adelaide last week, second only to Australian Trophy winner Logan Orange Sauvignon Blanc 2008 from New South Wales.

One of three Kiwi finalists, O:TU was selected following a Michael Cooper review earlier this year and will feature in the Winestate Special Edition magazine on sale this month.

Crafted by winemaker Gordon Ritchie, the O:TU Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 was produced from the original vineyard at the Otuwhero Estate.

Winestate Wine of the Year Awards 2008 Sauvignon Blanc finalists:
Trophy winner: Logan Orange Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Runner-up trophy winner: O:TU Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008
3. Astrolabe Voyage Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008
4. Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008
5. Dalrymple Pipers River Tasmania Sauvignon Blanc 2008

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Aussie's Huon Hooke rates O:TU 93 pts (NOV 08)
In the Sydney Morning Herald's 'Good Living' on Tuesday, November 25, Huon Hooke wrote, of O:TU Sauvignon Blanc 2007:

“93 points - this is a serious Kiwi sauvignon blanc. Concentrated and punchy, with a hint of the barrel among its white-pepper and cut radish aromas. It is soft, lingering and round in the mouth - and is a lot richer and deeper than most of its competitors.”

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O:TU to land in the UK (OCT 08)
O:TU has just signed with an exciting new UK distributor and will be available throughout the UK for trade purchases from the first week of December.

Catalyst Wine Services, a new company set up to source high quality, contemporary wine brands from the New World, will represent O:TU, targeting one or two premium retail accounts, independent retailers and the on-trade.

Commenting, Tony Wellings, Director and Founder of Catalyst Wine Services says that in his opinion everything about O:TU is right for the UK market.

“The first vintage was only 2006, yet O:TU has already achieved superb critical acclaim in Australia, Asia and the US. They have real ambition and together we hope to build a strong franchise. I am delighted to be representing them,” he says.

O:TU is also available in Ireland through O’Briens and wholesaler Mackenway Distributors.

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Bob Campbell NZ MW rates O:TU 90 pts (SEP 08)
Bob Campbell, New Zealand MW and globally acclaimed wine critic and judge has awarded O:TU Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 and O:TU Sauvignon Blanc 2008 scores of 90/100 and 86/100 respectively.

The O:TU wines are two of only a handful from the 2008 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc vintage as yet to score in this vicinity.

For more information please see: www.bobswinereviews.com

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O:TU in Ireland for summer (JUN 08)
O:TU Sauvignon Blanc is now available in Ireland through Mackenway Distributors and the country’s largest family owned drinks retailer O’Brien’s.

A Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with a twist, O:TU only produces premium Sauvignon Blanc, and only from their Estate in the ‘Otuwhero,’ a cool climate coastal area in the South East Awatere Valley where the growing season is longer and cooler – producing distinct expressions of this variety.

In a Pouilly Fume/ Sancerre meets Marlborough sort of way, O:TU has crisp minerality coupled with all the green fruit flavour intensity you’d expect from the best of New Zealand’s Awatere Valley. In the temperate months of summer, it’s just perfect for chilling.

Mackenway Distributors are exclusively supplying the international gold medal winning wine to select Irish wholesale customers while O’Briens retail customers can purchase O:TU through any of the 27 O’Briens stores or www.obrienswine.ie.

O:TU (2007) received a Top 100 Gold Medal at the Sydney International Wine Competition and a Gold Medal at the New Zealand Royal Easter Show. The brand has worked its way around the globe in just two vintages, and is now being savoured in select spots from as far afield as Bali and Chicago... and now Dublin.

The 2008 vintage will be released in the Irish market in early September.

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O:TU harvest 08 : stellar quality, yields a little down(APR 08)
The 2008 vintage of O:TU Sauvignon Blanc is on its way, with fermentations now underway.

Otuwhero Estates’ young, low-yielding vineyards are maturing well, with grapes this year harvested from the original ‘Bottom Block’ that produced the earlier two vintages, as well as two exciting new blocks situated adjacent to the Bottom Block but with slightly differing elevations.

Winemaker Gordon Ritchie says the 2008 fruit quality is characterised by great varietal definition and vibrant fruit characters and is confident the style and quality of the earlier international gold-medal winning 2006 and 2007 vintages can be reproduced.

“I think this year’s O:TU (due for release in late July) will be instantly recognisable as displaying the characters and quality that are associated with the previous vintages,” he says.

Located in the South East corner of Marlborough’s renowned Awatere Valley, the Otuwhero Estate vineyards produce exceptional quality Sauvignon Blanc fruit that has up until this year also been sold to two other leading, gold-medal winning Marlborough producers. This year’s yield, although significantly larger than that of 2007, was slightly down on expectations.

O:TU is now being exported to the USA (California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin), Indonesia, Hong Kong, the UK and Ireland, Australia and the Netherlands.

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Golden Easter for O:TU (MAR 08)
O:TU Sauvignon Blanc 2007 was awarded a gold medal at New Zealand’s oldest wine competition, the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards this week.

Under the guidance of renowned Awards Chairman Bob Campbell MW, and his deputy, Australian Mike De Garis, the judges awarded 17 gold, 41 silver and 96 bronze medals in the Sauvignon Blanc category, from over 1,300 entries across all varieties. 5.9% achieved gold medals.

Bob Campbell said that having been assisted by a run of very good vintages, New Zealand wine appears to have reached a new high level of quality according to the results of the show.

The gold is the second to date for the O:TU 2007 vintage, having also won a Top 100 gold medal at the Sydney International Wine Competition 2008 as well as a silver medal at the New Zealand International Wine Show.

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More international gold for O:TU 2007
O:TU Sauvignon Blanc 2007 has received a prestigious Top 100 Blue-Gold medal at the acclaimed Sydney International Wine Competition.

Awarded to only a handful of Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, the best rated 100 wines of 2,000 plus entered into the competition across all varieties, countries and vintages receive a Top 100 Blue-Gold medal.

The success in Sydney follows that of this vintage’s predecessor, O:TU 2006, which was the only New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to win Gold at Asia’s most prestigious wine competition, the Japan Wine Challenge 2007.

Made by Otuwhero Estates – specialist producers of super-premium, single-estate Sauvignon Blanc, O:TU hails from the Awatere Valley, a Marlborough sub-region imparting exciting new impetus to an established regional style.

Otuwhero Estates’ CEO John McLaughlan says the popularity of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is seeing consumers and importers in offshore markets start to look for stylistic differentiation across the region.

“The Awatere Valley has a cooler, longer growing season and so O:TU Sauvignon Blanc is greener and more herbaceous with more mineralilty and flinty characters than the typical Wairau Valley style Marlborough is well known for producing,” he says.

Delicious on its own or with all kinds of seafood and shellfish dishes, O:TU Sauvignon Blanc’s well-balanced and zesty acidity, luscious green fruit flavours and long crisp finish is being savoured in select spots across the globe.

Attracting wine entrants from all over the world, the SIWC is judged by a panel of judges just as international and aims to offer consumers independent information to help in their choice of wines more likely to enhance the pleasures of the daily dining experience and, by so doing, to add enjoyment and contentment to their everyday lives. For more information see www.top100wines.com.

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O:TU 2006 solo gold medal winner in acclaimed international show
O:TU Sauvignon Blanc 2006, produced by the Awatere Valley's Otuwhero Estates, was the only New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to win a gold medal at Asia’s most prestigious wine competition, the Japan Wine Challenge.

International in flavour, the JWC 2007 attracted over 1,700 wine entries from 20 countries and was judged by a panel of 30 international judges from 10 countries, chaired by Consulting Editor of Decanter Steven Spurrier and featuring John Avery MW (past Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine).

O:TU will now compete for the Best New World White Wine Trophy and is up against six other gold medal winning New Zealand wines including the Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir 2006 and the Villa Maria Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2005, for the Best New Zealand Wine Trophy – both to be announced in October.

New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs entered receiving silver medals included Villa Maria Wairau Reserve 2006, Wither Hills 2006, Wairau River 2006, Whitehaven 2006, Grove Mill 2006, Kaituna Valley 2006, Highfield 2006, Spy Valley 2006. Bronze medal winners included Mt Riley 2007 and Babich 2006.

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Superb harvest for O:TU Sauvignon Blanc 2007 vintage (MAY 2007)
O:TU Sauvignon Blanc 2007 looks set to be the best vintage yet for the fresh new wine producer specialising in premium Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough’s renowned Awatere Valley.

Otuwhero Estates was relatively unaffected by the harsh frosts and climatic conditions that battered much of Marlborough's 2007 harvest and took in over 220 tonne from its vineyards in the Otuwhero area just off the South Pacific coast.

Operations Director Michael Davison says he is really pleased with the quality of this year's crop.

"The Marlborough vintage was characterised by a cold flowering period but the longer, cooler growing season in the Otuwhero [than elsewhere in the province] enabled our fruit to round out and gather particularly intense flavours," he says.

“O:TU Sauvignon Blanc 2007 looks set to considerably build upon the quality of our first vintage last year, helping to cement it as a premium Sauvignon Blanc label,” he says.

O:TU winemaker Gordon Ritchie also describes the currently fermenting 2007 vintage favourably.

“There are some great flavours that truly reflect the quality and cool-climate origin of the grapes,” he says.

O:TU is a fresh new specialist Sauvignon Blanc producer currently seeking distribution in a number of export markets.

O:TU Sauvignon Blanc 2007 is due for release in mid July.

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One of Marlborough’s freshest savvies yet released (NOV 2006)
O:TU, a new specialist producer of premium Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough’s Awatere Valley, has just released its first vintage of Sauvignon Blanc.

Striking rapport with wine lovers near and far, O:TU is already being savoured in select spots across the globe.

Hong Kong’s Limestone Coast Wines Ltd Director Angela Rolston says that as a premium Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc, O:TU showcases the varietal differences within the Marlborough region and therefore is very attractive for import and distribution.

“Because of its particularly cool-climate heritage, O:TU is crisper, zestier and more refreshing than many of its Marlborough counterparts and therefore provides an interesting point of differentiation on any wine list," says Angela.

O:TU owns extensive vineyards in the Otuwhero area of the lower Awatere Valley and is committed to producing premium Sauvignon Blanc under its O:TU label.

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