New World Wine Awards top 50 under $25 revealed

The New World Wine Awards top 50 wines under $25 have been announced from more than 1000 entries.

An independent panel of wine experts, led by co-chair Sam Kim tasted and scored the entries over three full days, first awarding the Gold medal winners, then tasting through these wines again and again to determine the 50 best for the list.

“All the judging was blind, meaning we didn’t know the brand or price point of any entry, so consumers can trust that every winning wine really measures up,” he says.

While the Top 50 includes familiar favourites from around New Zealand and the world, there are also new brands to explore, including the Caythorpe Family Estate Chardonnay 2021, which earned Caythorpe winery its first New World Wine Awards Gold medal and Top 50 spot.

The Chardonnay was also awarded the Champion Chardonnay trophy and the ‘White Wine of the Show’ title.

“The family has been farming in Marlborough for generations but has only been operating their own wine brand for the past eight years,” says Kim. “With a very small team running the wine business, one of whom also looks after the family’s cherry orchards when he’s not among the vines, this is truly toast-worthy win.

“It’s a great opportunity for the brand to reach new customers, as well as a wonderful example to show how Marlborough’s breadth and depth extends well beyond its much-loved Sauvignon Blanc,” says Kim.

Other Marlborough-made winners include wines from Black Cottage, Esk Valley, Geisen and Ara, The Coterie’s Massey Dacta, Misty Cove, Mount Riley, SOHO Family Vineyards, Stoneleigh, te Pā and Montford Estate, Triplebank and Vavasour.

The Nelson region took the Champion Sauvignon Blanc title this year with the Anchorage Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2023.

Local Gewürtz-experts Seifried also landed two wines in the Top 50, including a Rosé under the Old Coad Road label. 

From the North Island, Hawke’s Bay has six wines in the Top 50, including three trophies, alongside sole Wairarapa-winner Luna Estate with its 2021 Pinot Noir.

Gisborne-grown Verde Brut took the Champion Bubbles prize, alongside New Zealand’s most awarded bubbles, Lindauer, which features two sparkling wines in the Top 50. 

From further afield, the top 50 also boasts international flavours from Argentina, Australia, France and Italy including wines like the Trapiche Pure Black Malbec 2021, Chaffey Bros La Resistance GSM 2021, Freixenet Prosecco DOC, and Les Jamelles Clair de Rosé 2022.

How to catch up with The Shout NZ…

Online, updated daily with its own unique content and breaking news.
Our weekly newsletter – free to your inbox! Subscribe here.
We are also on Facebook and Instagram!