WINE
Wine show steps up a level BY SOPHIE PREECE
T
he Marlborough Wine Show has doubled in size since it started in 2011, thanks to the innovations of its founders and the enthusiasm of its supporters. Industry body Wine Marlborough, which assumed ownership of the regional wine competition last month, wants to expand its sphere while retaining its essence, says General Manager Marcus Pickens. “This is an event that celebrates Marlborough wine in the place it was made, amongst the people who know it best. This is the event local companies want to do well at.” Belinda Jackson and Margaret Cresswell started the event seven years ago, and have rolled out unique aspects ever since, including judging wines in sub-regional classes, using varietyspecific glassware and auctioning all leftover wines to create a trust fund for industry grants. They also established a Legacy class to recognise the ability of Marlborough wines to age well across a range of varieties. Belinda says being small and independent meant the show was nimble when it came to change, making it easy to innovate. “And we wanted to make the show as relevant as possible for the Marlborough region, and that includes the judging experience.”
Winemaker Helen Morrison receives one of Villa Maria’s four trophies at the Marlborough Wine Show
The wines, which must be produced from a minimum of 95% Marlborough grapes, are judged by three panels of experts, including qualified and experienced local winemakers plus wine educators and writers. Belinda and Margaret were determined that the judges should have a positive experience, which was a major reason they introduced style-specific glassware. “You are showing the wines in their truest form,” Belinda says. “You can’t change a wine with what you serve it in, but the style-specific glassware does mean you are showing it in its best light.” Helen Morrison, Villa Maria winemaker and Marlborough Wine Show judge, says the Legacy class is also a treat for judges. “This opens up a window into our winemaking history, so it’s great to see how well-supported it is across so many varieties.” Belinda says the sub-regional judging of sauvignon blanc and pinot noir was a
market-led initiative, to give sommeliers and others a meaty story to get their teeth into. The sub-regional class also offers insight about those stylistic differences for the industry itself, whether that be considering tomato leaf in the Awatere or tropical punch in the Wairau, says Belinda. “Let’s have a look at that. Let’s see if that is the case, and let’s understand it better.” To date the competition has judged sauvignon blanc and pinot noir by subregion but no trophies were awarded at that level. Belinda believes this is the next logical development. She is pleased to have the competition pass to Wine Marlborough hands. “We can’t take it to the next level, despite our wonderful sponsors … there are visions we had for the competition that Margaret and I just don’t have the resources to execute, so we are really excited that it has longevity in the hands of Wine Marlborough.”
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