6 minute read
The new Aotearoa awards replacing the Easter Show wine awards
www.seifried.co.nz
With over 800 entries, the country’s newest and only national wine show has clearly been embraced by the wine industry it serves.
The National Wine Awards of Aotearoa New Zealand launched this year with the purpose of identifying, celebrating and elevating excellence in New Zealand wine.
This same team has organised the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, NZ's longest running Wine Show, and as that format is retired, they are very proud to introduce this new celebration.
Judging took place over three days in late September at the Kumeu Showgrounds with Jane Cooper as Chair of Judges, ably supported by Olly Masters as her Deputy, and Meg Brodtmann MW from Australia as International Guest Judge along with an excellent and very capable team of nineteen New Zealandbased judges.
The celebration part of the show’s mission statement, the Awards of Excellence, happens next Sunday 6 November where trophies will be awarded to the best of the best, with each trophy-winning wine being poured for guests over a decadent long lunch at Auckland’s Hilton Hotel.
For further questions, please contact Jo Gear as below. Ngā mihi, The National Wine Awards Committee & Establishment Board.
JO GEAR Convenor nationalwineawardsofaotearoanz@gmail.com +64 21 900 739
IT’S A CHARDONNAY DAY AT THE INAUGURAL NATIONAL WINE AWARDS WATERFRONT CELEBRATION
Chardonnay wins top honours at the inaugural National Wine Awards of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Isabel Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 won the Champion Wine of the Show as well as scooping the New World Trophy for Champion Chardonnay and its winemaker Jeremy McKenzie took top honours as Winemaker of the Show at the Awards of Excellence luncheon celebration at Auckland’s Hilton waterfront hotel today.
Chair of Judges, Jane Cooper, commented on the incredible balance of the wine, noting the tension between acid and fruit. “It’s a feat of brilliance to bring that richness and texture to the palate while maintaining spark and lightness,” Cooper said.
“It’s a thrill of a wine, and Jeremy’s understanding and mastery are on clear display. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Isabel Estate has a long tradition of Chardonnay, with 30-year old Mendoza vines contributing to this stellar wine. McKenzie has been in charge since 2014 (starting there on his birthday) converting much of the vineyard to organic principles with an eye on top end chardonnay for the long haul.
The Luncheon, emceed by Jesse Mulligan, the “affordable John Campbell” (in his own words) awarded 17 Trophies, including the Auckland A&P Association Heritage Rosebowl that rewards wines that reflect a consistency of style over time, the winner of which was Wanaka’s three vintages of Mount Maude Reserve East Block Riesling (2012, 2016, 2021).
Family-owned Hawke’s Bay winery Askerne was the popular winner of two trophies, including the New Zealand Couriers Trophy for Champion Gewürztraminer, and Central Otago’s Providore Pinot Noir 2019 took out the hotly contested Rural News Group Trophy for Champion Pinot Noir.
TROPHY WINNERS 2022
DISH MAGAZINE TROPHY FOR CHAMPION PINOT GRIS
DUCK HUNTER MARLBOROUGH PINOT GRIS 2022
Richly fragrant and enticing, this is an excellent example of modern, cool-climate Gris. Concentrated and flavourful with great texture and excellent length. A really enjoyable wine.
YEALANDS ESTATE SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022
Intense greens and bright herb freshness that clearly express the best of the Awatere. Wonderful concentration of flavour and excellent acid line that carries a juicy moreishness. A true classic.
RAPID LABELS TROPHY FOR CHAMPION SPARKLING
LINDAUER VINTAGE SERIES BRUT CUVÉE 2017
Lovely ripe fruit notes sit well with attractive autolysis characters. Elegant and seamless with a deliciously satisfying finish. Very well made.
ANTIPODES TROPHY FOR CHAMPION RIESLING
MUD HOUSE SINGLE VINEYARD THE MOUND RIESLING 2021
Beautifully made, captivating wine. All the hallmarks of benchmark Riesling - weight, intensity, tension and elegance. A winner on all fronts.
WINEWORKS TROPHY FOR CHAMPION ROSÉ
SQUAWKING MAGPIE FIRST FLIGHT STARTLED PINK 2022
Modern and fresh, this is everything good Rosé should be. Ripe fruit gives enticing fragrance as well as lovely palate richness while finishing just-dry and refreshingly long. A very good drink.
TROPHY FOR CHAMPION OTHER WHITE VARIETIES
ASKERNE VIOGNIER 2021
Thoughtfully made, the alcohol, acid, fruit and sweetness all balance beautfully to deliver a delicious mouthful. Richly textured with a lovely glide to the finish.
RURAL NEWS GROUP TROPHY FOR CHAMPION PINOT NOIR PROVIDORE PINOT NOIR 2019
Striking that perfect balance of tannin ripeness with cool-climate freshness, this wine is an absolute pleasure. Plush, weighty and elegant, bottle age has made it comfortable yet it's vibrant and alive.
MAINFREIGHT TROPHY FOR CHAMPION EXPORT WINE
BLIND RIVER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022
A lovely combination of ripe tropical notes and a grassy freshness that delivers all the flavour punch promised by the nose. Textural and juicy to finish. The world will love it.
GUALA CLOSURES NZ TROPHY FOR BEST PRESENTED SCREWCAP WINE BOTTLE
TE KANO CENTRAL OTAGO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021
NEW WORLD TROPHY FOR CHAMPION CHARDONNAY
ISABEL ESTATE MARLBOROUGH CHARDONNAY 2020
A thrilling wine that shows richness and texture on the palate while maintaining spark and lightness. Beautifully crafted with all those elements of fine chardonnay working together in perfect harmony.
TROPHY FOR CHAMPION MERLOT & BLENDS
MUD HOUSE HAWKE'S BAY MERLOT 2021
Brightly fruited, this is a joyous wine, showing ripe berry notes, well-integrated oak and bold tannins. Youthful freshness and lovely flavour deliver wonderful drinkability.
TROPHY FOR CHAMPION SYRAH
GIESEN SINGLE VINEYARD CLAYVIN SYRAH 2021
This is a gorgeous wine that is testament to great skill from vineyard to bottle. Fruit richness, fine tannin and sensitive inputs have crafted a beautifully balanced masterpiece.
FRUITFED TROPHY FOR CHAMPION CABERNET & BLENDS
VILLA MARIA RESERVE GIMBLETT GRAVELS HAWKES BAY CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT 2020
A lovely example of blending mastery, bringing the best together to create a seamless wine. Length, elegance, concentration and poise - this has it all.
ASKERNE RESERVE GEWURZTRAMINER 2021
Rich, ripe style with superb balance of fruit sweetness and acid freshness. Great intensity of flavour and excellent length. Delicious.
TROPHY FOR CHAMPION OTHER RED VARIETIES
LEFTFIELD HAWKES BAY MALBEC 2020
From the vibrant colour to the ripe brambly fruit notes and plush tannins, this is a statement wine. Mouthfilling and flavourful, it's an excellent example of Malbec and a wonderful reason to drink outside the square.
AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL & PASTORAL ASSOCIATION HERITAGE ROSE BOWL MOUNT MAUDE RESERVE EAST BLOCK RIESLING 2012/2016/2021
These three Mount Maude East Block Rieslings show the very best of this variety, made in a pristine style with delightful acidity and balance. The older wines showed subtle, restrained kerosene and honey notes but still looked youthful with lime/lemon notes, a lovely mineral line of acidity and tension. The 2021 vintage was all about the tautness and vibrancy of a young Riesling, delicious.
TROPHY FOR CHAMPION WINE OF THE SHOW
ISABEL ESTATE MARLBOROUGH CHARDONNAY 2020
WINEJOBSONLINE.COM TROPHY FOR CHAMPION SWEET WINE
VILLA MARIA RESERVE NOBLE RIESLING 2021
An inviting medley of ripe stonefruit aromatics. Intensely concentrated fruit flavours are lifted by a line of acid freshness delivering length and purity. Lovely example of what NZ can do with sweet wines.
AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL & PASTORAL ASSOCIATION WINEMAKER OF THE SHOW
JEREMY MCKENZIE
