Following 1,407 wines being entered in this year’s Air New Zealand Wine Awards, judges have awarded 84 gold medals to wines from around the country.
Chair of Judges and Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich said the most pleasing aspect of this year’s awards was the spread of gold medals across a number of varietal styles and regions.
“Pinot Noir was once again the star performer with 18 golds. Predominantly the wines came from Otago, Marlborough and the Wairarapa, but Nelson, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noirs were also in the mix.
“The top wines from other categories were exceptional, particularly from Chardonnay, Sparkling, Gewürztraminer and the Sweet White wines, and the quality of Hawke’s Bay Syrah continues to impress.”
In addition to the 84 gold medals, 220 silver medals and 551 bronze medals were also awarded by the judges, bringing the total number of medals awarded across the 16 different classes to 855.
Sustainability continues to be a strong focus of the Air New Zealand Wine Awards, with a record 99.7 percent of wines entered into this year’s competition having sustainable accreditation.
The acclaimed trophy winning wines and winners of the elite gold medals will be revealed at a black tie dinner in Nelson on 28 November. New Zealand’s top winemakers and industry professionals will attend the event.
The Air New Zealand Wine Awards celebrate 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 40 years.
The following lists the gold medal winners and the trophies they are eligible for at the black tie dinner on 28 November:
Wineworks Limited Champion Sparkling Wine
Pure Gold
Akarua Vintage Brut Central Otago 2010
Deutz Marlborough Cuvée Blanc de Blancs Méthode Traditionnelle 2011
Nautilus Cuvée Marlborough Brut NV
New Zealand Winegrowers Champion Gewürztraminer
Pure Gold
Johanneshof Cellars Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2014
Lawson’s Dry Hills Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2014
Guala Closures NZ Ltd Champion Pinot Gris
Pure Gold
Brightwater Vineyards Pinot Gris Nelson 2015
Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
Dashwood Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
Greystone Pinot Gris Waipara Valley 2015
Isabel Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
Saint Clair Godfrey’s Creek Reserve Pinot Gris Marlborough 2014
Saint Clair Premium Pinot Gris Marlborough 2014
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Gris Awatere Valley, Marlborough 2015
Plant & Food Research Champion Riesling
Pure Gold
Allan Scott Family Winemakers Riesling Marlborough 2014
Ceres Black Rabbit Vineyard Riesling Central Otago 2015
Peter Yealands Riesling Marlborough 2015
Terra Sancta Miro’s Block Dry Riesling Central Otago 2014
Waipara Springs Riesling Waipara Valley 2015
Label and Litho Ltd Champion Sauvignon Blanc
Pure Gold
Delta Hatters Hill Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
Lowlands Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Rapaura Springs Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 3 43 Degrees Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Saint Clair Premium Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Starborough Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
The Ned Waihopai River Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Vidal Estate Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Volcanic Hills Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Rabobank New Zealand Champion Chardonnay
Pure Gold
Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2013
Esk Valley Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
Kim Crawford Small Parcels Wild Grace Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
Lake Chalice The Raptor Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Nautilus Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 10 Twin Hills Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 11 Cell Block Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Villa Maria Reserve Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Whitehaven Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Bite Magazine Champion Sweet Wine
Pure Gold
Awatere River by Louis Vavasour Late Harvest Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2014
Giesen The Brothers Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
Seifried Winemaker Collection Sweet Agnes Riesling Nelson 2015
Sileni Exceptional Vintage Pourriture Noble Marlborough 2014
Toast Champion Rosé
Pure Gold
Aspiring Flats Rosé Central Otago 2015
JF Hillebrand New Zealand Champion Pinot Noir
Pure Gold
Akitu A2 Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Brightwater Vineyards Pinot Noir Nelson 2014
Coal Pit Tiwha Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Craggy Range Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough 2013
Fifth Bridge Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Giesen Single Vineyard Selection Ridge Block Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Julicher Pinot Noir Martinborough 2013
Kuru Kuru Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Tarras Vineyards Single Vineyard The Canyon Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Te Tera Pinot Noir Martinborough 2014
Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Coast FM Champion Merlot, Cabernet and Blends
Pure Gold
Babich The Patriarch Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2014
Selaks Founders Merlot Cabernet Hawke’s Bay 2014
SOHO Revolver Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec Waiheke Island 2014
Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah
Pure Gold
Church Road McDonald Series Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
Elephant Hill Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
Matua Single Vineyard Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
Sileni Estate Selection The Peak Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
Port Nelson Limited Champion Other White Styles
Pure Gold
Waimea Family Estate Albariño Nelson 2015
Rangitikei Chicken Champion Exhibition White or Sparkling Wine
Pure Gold
Archangel Stefania Riesling Central Otago 2012
Mission Estate Jewelstone Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
Spy Valley Envoy Riesling Marlborough 2010
Tohu Mugwi Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
Villa Maria Library Release Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2010
Whitehaven Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2014
Gold
Daniel Le Brun Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc De Blanc 2009
Nelson Airport Limited Champion Exhibition Red Wine
Pure Gold
Beach House Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
Church Road Grand Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
Gladstone Vineyard Rosé Wairarapa 2015
Greylands Ridge Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Haythornthwaite Beverley Reserve Pinot Noir Martinborough 2013
Junction Possession Pinot Noir Hawke’s Bay 2014
Newton Forrest Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Malbec Hawke’s Bay 2013
Ngatarawa Proprietors Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
The Boneline Waimanu Pinot Noir Waipara Valley 2014
New World Champion Open White Wine (also in other categories)
Pure Gold
Allan Scott Family Winemakers Riesling Marlborough 2014
Rapaura Springs Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Saint Clair Premium Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
The Ned Waihopai River Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Vidal Estate Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Waipara Springs Riesling Waipara Valley 2015
Liquorland Champion Open Red Wine (also in other categories)
Pure Gold
Craggy Range Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough 2013
SOHO Revolver Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec Waiheke Island 2014
Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Te Tera Pinot Noir Martinborough 2014
Names of the gold medal winners by region
Auckland
SOHO Revolver Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec Waiheke Island 2014
Hawke’s Bay
Babich The Patriarch Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013
Beach House Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2013
Church Road Grand Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
Church Road McDonald Series Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
Elephant Hill Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
Esk Valley Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
Junction Possession Pinot Noir Hawke’s Bay 2014
Kim Crawford Small Parcels Wild Grace Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
Matua Single Vineyard Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
Mission Estate Jewelstone Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
Newton Forrest Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Malbec Hawke’s Bay 2013
Ngatarawa Proprietors Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2014
Selaks Founders Merlot Cabernet Hawke’s Bay 2014
Sileni Estate Selection The Peak Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Villa Maria Library Release Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2010
Villa Maria Reserve Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
Wellington / Wairarapa
Craggy Range Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough 2013
Gladstone Vineyard Rosé Wairarapa 2015
Haythornthwaite Beverley Reserve Pinot Noir Martinborough 2013
Julicher Pinot Noir Martinborough 2013
Te Tera Pinot Noir Martinborough 2014
Nelson
Brightwater Vineyards Pinot Gris Nelson 2015
Brightwater Vineyards Pinot Noir Nelson 2014
Seifried Winemaker Collection Sweet Agnes Riesling Nelson 2015
Waimea Family Estate Albariño Nelson 2015
Marlborough
Allan Scott Family Winemakers Riesling Marlborough 2014
Awatere River by Louis Vavasour Late Harvest Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2014
Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
Daniel Le Brun Methode Traditionnelle Blanc De Blanc 2009
Dashwood Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
Delta Hatters Hill Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
Deutz Marlborough Cuvée Blanc de Blancs Méthode Traditionnelle 2011
Giesen Single Vineyard Selection Ridge Block Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Giesen The Brothers Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
Isabel Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
Johanneshof Cellars Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2014
Lake Chalice The Raptor Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Lawson’s Dry Hills Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2014
Lowlands Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Nautilus Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Nautilus Cuvee Marlborough Brut NV NV
Peter Yealands Riesling Marlborough 2015
Rapaura Springs Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Saint Clair Godfrey’s Creek Reserve Pinot Gris Marlborough 2014
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 10 Twin Hills Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 11 Cell Block Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 3 43 Degrees Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Saint Clair Premium Pinot Gris Marlborough 2014
Saint Clair Premium Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Sileni Exceptional Vintage Pourriture Noble Marlborough 2014
Spy Valley Envoy Riesling Marlborough 2010
Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Starborough Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
The Ned Waihopai River Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Tohu Mugwi Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
Vidal Estate Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
Volcanic Hills Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
Whitehaven Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
Whitehaven Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2014
Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Gris Awatere Valley, Marlborough 2015
Canterbury
Greystone Pinot Gris Waipara Valley 2015
The Boneline Waimanu Pinot Noir Waipara Valley 2014
Waipara Springs Riesling Waipara Valley 2015
Central Otago
Akarua Vintage Brut 2010
Akitu A2 Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Archangel Stefania Riesling Central Otago 2012
Aspiring Flats Rosé Central Otago 2015
Ceres Black Rabbit Vineyard Riesling Central Otago 2015
Coal Pit Tiwha Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Fifth Bridge Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Greylands Ridge Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Kuru Kuru Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Tarras Vineyards Single Vineyard The Canyon Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
Terra Sancta Miro’s Block Dry Riesling Central Otago 2014