Following three days of judging more than 1,300 wines, 80 gold medals have been awarded in this year’s Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
Chair of Judges Warren Gibson says the most pleasing aspect of this year’s awards was the spread of gold medals across a number of varieties and regions.
“Pinot Noir was once again the star performer with 20 Golds. Predominantly the wines came from Central Otago, but Marlborough and Martinborough were also in the mix,” he says.
“The top wines from other categories were exceptional, particularly from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot, Cabernet and Blends. Marlborough has performed very strongly this year, with 41 Golds, but it is good to see Central Otago and Hawke’s Bay bringing in plenty of Gold medals too.”
In addition to the 80 Gold medals, 221 Silver medals and 493 Bronze medals were awarded by the judges, bringing the total number of medals awarded across the 17 different classes to 794.
The ‘best of the best’ trophy winning wines will be revealed at a black tie dinner in Hawke’s Bay on 25 November, including the Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show and O-I New Zealand Reserve Wine of the Show.
The following lists the gold medal winners and the trophies they are eligible for at the black tie dinner on 25 November.
Gold medals by varietal
Sparkling 4
Gewürztraminer 3
Pinot Gris 5
Riesling 6
Sauvignon Blanc 9
Chardonnay 13
Sweet Wine 4
Rosé 2
Pinot Noir 20
Merlot, Cabernet and Blends 7
Syrah 5
Other Varieties – Single 2
Total 80
Gold medals by region
Auckland 2
Hawke’s Bay 14
Wellington Wine Country 2
Nelson 2
Marlborough 41
Central Otago 19
Total 80
JF Hillebrand New Zealand Champion Pinot Noir
Gold
Akarua Pinot Noir Central Otago 2016
Akitu A2 Pinot Noir Central Otago 2016
Bald Hills Bannockburn Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015
Craggy Range Pinot Noir Martinborough 2016
Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016
Domain Road Vineyard Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Esk Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016
Freeland Pinot Noir Central Otago 2016
Goldwater Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016
Grove Mill Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016
Maude Pinot Noir Central Otago 2016
Peregrine Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015
Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir Marlborough 2015
Wairau River Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016
Wet Jacket Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015
Wooing Tree Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Rabobank Champion Chardonnay
Gold
Brancott Estate Letter Series “O” Chardonnay Marlborough 2016
Giesen The Fuder Clayvin Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016
Ka Tahi ‘Rangatira’ Reserve Te Awanga Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2016
Martinborough Vineyard Home Block Chardonnay Martinborough 2015
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 4 Sawcut Chardonnay Marlborough 2016
Vidal Legacy Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2016
Whitehaven Chardonnay Marlborough 2016
Label and Litho Champion Sauvignon Blanc
Gold
Giesen The Fuder Matthews Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc Wairau Valley Marlborough 2017
Hawkesbridge Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Jules Taylor Wines Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Mount Vernon Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Opawa Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Quay Connect Champion Other White Styles
Gold
Nautilus Albariño Marlborough 2017
Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah
Gold
Coopers Creek Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2016
Elephant Hill Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2015
Guala Closures New Zealand Ltd Champion Pinot Gris
Gold
Mount Riley Pinot Gris Marlborough 2017
Rapaura Springs Reserve Pinot Gris Marlborough 2016
Saddleback Pinot Gris Central Otago 2017
Vavasour Pinot Gris Marlborough 2017
Riedel Champion Gewürztraminer
Gold
Bladen Gewürztraminer ‘Tilly Vineyard’ Marlborough 2017
Hunter’s Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2017
Lawson’s Dry Hills Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2016
Eastern Realty Limited Champion Merlot, Cabernet and Blends
Gold
Coopers Creek ‘Gimblett Gravels’ Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2016
Poderi Crisci Viburno Waiheke Island 2013
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Hawke’s Bay 2015
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Organic Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2015
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2015
Plant & Food Research Champion Riesling
Gold
Ceres Bannockburn Black Rabbit Riesling Central Otago 2017
Growers Mark Bone Dry Riesling Marlborough 2016
Mount Riley Riesling Marlborough 2017
Whitehaven Riesling Marlborough 2017
WineWorks Champion Sparkling Wine
Gold
Aotea by the Seifried Family Méthode Traditionnelle Nelson NV
Nautilus Vintage Rosé Marlborough 2014
Tohu Rewa Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blanc Marlborough 2014
New Zealand Winegrowers Champion Sweet Wine
Gold
Forrest Botrytised Riesling Marlborough 2016
Loop Rd. Noble Riesling Central Otago 2016
One Off ‘Sticky One Oh One’ Gewürztraminer Hawke’s Bay 2016
Wairau River Reserve Botrytised Riesling Marlborough 2016
New World Champion Open White Wine
Gold
Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc Wairau Valley Marlborough 2017
Mount Riley Pinot Gris Marlborough 2017
Mount Vernon Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Opawa Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Saddleback Pinot Gris Central Otago 2017
Vavasour Pinot Gris Marlborough 2017
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2017
Dish Magazine Champion Open Red Wine
Gold
Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016
Peregrine Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015
Wairau River Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016
New Zealand Winegrowers Champion Exhibition White or Sparkling Wine
Gold
Clearview Beachhead Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2016
Isabel Wild Barrique Chardonnay Marlborough 2016
Jules Taylor OTQ Single Vineyard Chardonnay Marlborough 2016
Matua Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016
Maude Mt Maude Vineyard East Block Riesling Central Otago 2017
No1 Reserve Marlborough NV
Ruru Pinot Gris Central Otago 2017
te Pā Chardonnay Marlborough 2016
The Sounds Riesling Marlborough 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
Wairau River Albariño Marlborough 2017
New Holland Agriculture Champion Exhibition Red Wine
Gold
Falcon Ridge Estate Syrah Nelson 2016
Goldie Estate Reserve Syrah Waiheke Island 2014
Kidnapper Cliffs Gimblett Gravels Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
Lowburn Ferry Home Block Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015
Mount Michael Isla Reserve Pinot Noir Central Otago 2016
Rockburn Seven Barrels Pinot Noir Central Otao 2016
Squawking Magpie Gimblett Gravels SQM Cabernets Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013
Three Miners Rosé Central Otago 2017
Wet Jacket Rosé Central Otago 2017
The Air New Zealand Wine Awards are a celebration of excellence in New Zealand winemaking and are widely considered to be the country’s most prestigious wine competition. New Zealand Winegrowers, the national organisation for the country’s 1,600 grape growers and winemakers, has owned and organised the competition for the past 41 years.
Fore more info, visit www.airnzwineawards.co.nz
