Hawke’s Bay winery Sileni has announced that it’s Sileni Estate Selection ‘Plateau’ Pinot Noir will be served to British Airways first class customers. The wine is now available in international first class cabins on routes across Asia and the Pacific.
The selection is a further endorsement for Hawke’s Bay grown Pinot Noir, a region that has not yet received the same recognition as other Pinot Noir producing areas in New Zealand.
“I don’t think that many people understand how much Pinot Noir is grown in Hawke’s Bay, or the quality of it,” said CEO Nigel Avery. “The varietal is our largest red wine export, appreciated in more than 80 markets around the world for its food-friendly style.”
The British Airways selection follows the inclusion across the Atlantic of another Sileni Pinot Noir, the Cellar Selection, in American Airlines business class cabins. Recent vintages of the varietal have also collected trophies in the Sydney International Wine Competition, the Korea Wine Challenge and the China Wine and Spirits Awards. In addition to gold medals in the Selections Mondiales des Vins in Montreal, Los Angeles International Wine Competition, San Francisco International Wine Competition and Mundus Vini International Wine Awards in Germany.
“We’re excited by the recognition our Pinot Noir is receiving around the world. Our Plateau Pinot is made from vineyards planted in cool, elevated Hawke’s Bay sub-regions, sites which are now starting to prove their potential for producing world-class Pinot Noir,” said chief winemaker Grant Edmonds.
