Chardonnay Shines at 2017 Air New Zealand Wine Awards

A Marlborough Chardonnay has won the top prize at the 2017 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

The Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016 won the prestigious Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show trophy, as well as the Rabobank Champion Chardonnay trophy, at an Art Deco inspired awards dinner in Hawke’s Bay last night.

Chair of Judges Warren Gibson said the Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016 was a very classy example of the Chardonnay in this year’s competition.

“It has a beautiful balance of components with a rich long finish,” said Mr Gibson.  “It’s packed with flavour but still maintains a remarkable lightness on its feet.”

The producer of this champion Chardonnay, Isabel Estate Vineyard, is a pioneering winery in Marlborough and planted their first vineyards in 1980. They also have some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in the region. Chief Winemaker Jeremy McKenzie says Isabel Estate Vineyard’s philosophy on working the land is simple.

“Respect the soil where the grapes grow and allow the unique characters of each vineyard and variety to be expressed in the final wine.”

The second highest accolade of the evening, the O-I New Zealand Reserve Wine of the Show trophy, went to the Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016. This impressive Pinot Noir, made by Chief Winemaker Stu Marfell of Foley Family Wines, also won the JF Hillebrand New Zealand Champion Pinot Noir trophy.

“As with many of the best wines in this class there is perfume and length with elegant tannins and a lingering and powerful finish,” stated Mr Gibson.

Air New Zealand Chief Operating Officer Bruce Parton says the airline is proud to have sponsored the New Zealand wine industry’s official awards for 31 years.

“Through our partnership with New Zealand Winegrowers we are committed to championing the success of the industry right around the world, both through these awards as well as by working together to help grow wine tourism.

“It’s been great to see entries from wineries across the country this year and we’d like to congratulate all the medal and trophy winners.”

Seventeen trophies were announced at the dinner, which was emceed by Jack Tame and Renee Wright. This year’s competition saw over 1,300 wines entered.

 

Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2017 – Trophy Winners

Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show

Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016

 

O-I New Zealand Reserve Wine of the Show

Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016

 

JF Hillebrand New Zealand Champion Pinot Noir

Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016

 

Label and Litho Limited Champion Sauvignon Blanc

Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc Wairau Valley Marlborough 2017

 

Rabobank Champion Chardonnay

Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016

 

Dish Magazine Champion Open Red Wine

Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016

 

Bayleys Real Estate Champion Merlot, Cabernet and Blends

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Organic Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2016

 

Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah

Coopers Creek Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2016

 

Guala Closures New Zealand Champion Pinot Gris

Saddleback Pinot Gris Central Otago 2017

 

New World Champion Open White Wine

Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc Wairau Valley Marlborough 2017

New Zealand Winegrowers Champion Sweet Wine

Forrest Botrytised Riesling Marlborough 2016

Plant & Food Research Champion Riesling

Mount Riley Riesling Marlborough 2017

 

Quay Connect Champion Other White Styles

Nautilus Albariño Marlborough 2017

 

Riedel New Zealand Champion Gewürztraminer

Lawson’s Dry Hills Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2016

 

WineWorks Champion Sparkling Wine

Aotea by the Seifried Family Méthode Traditionnelle Nelson NV

 

New Zealand Winegrowers Champion Exhibition White or Sparkling Wine

Isabel Wild Barrique Chardonnay Marlborough 2016

 

New Holland Agriculture Champion Exhibition Red Wine

Falcon Ridge Estate Syrah Nelson 2016

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GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Following three days of judging over 1,300 wines, 80 gold medals have been awarded in this year’s Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

Chair of Judges Warren Gibson said 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.”
“The top wines from other categories were exceptional, particularly from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot, Cabernet & 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 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.

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THE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS BY VARIETAL

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

For more information visit www.airnzwineawards.co.nz