Few New Zealand vineyards are more respected globally than Waiheke Island’s Stonyridge Vineyard – and now its founder, Stephen White, has been recognised for his excellence in winemaking by being inducted into the Jurade de Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, France, on the 18th of September 2016.
The Jurade de Saint-Emilion is 800 years old – the oldest wine brotherhood in the world.
With so few members and such a long history, the induction ceremony was understandably steeped in tradition, with candidates robed in red capes, a parade through the streets to the Collegiale Church of Saint-Emilion, the intronisation (admission), a wine banquet lunch in the Jardins et Salle des Dominicains and then the proclamation of the Ban des Vendages from the medieval tower to open the harvest.
Says Stephen, “It’s an enormous honour. As far as I’m aware, I am the only New Zealander and one of the very few foreign winery owners to be admitted. It is very special to have this accolade bestowed upon me as I trained in Bordeaux during the 1980’s and I have worked with and employed many French staff since.”
“Our last Napa and Bordeaux trips demonstrated to us how the great wineries of the world accept Stonyridge as a peer, a respect which has culminated in this award.”
