The medal winners of the 2012 Air New Zealand Wine Awards were announced today. Of 1367 wines entered from 222 wineries, there were 97 (7.09%) gold medals, 183 (13.39%) silver and 364 (26.63%) bronzes awarded, making a total of 644 (47.11%) medals awarded. This is very much on par with last year’s results except that this year there proportionally slightly more golds and a little less silvers. Sustainable winegrowing is a major focus of the New Zealand wine industry, and is recognised at the show. 90% of the wines awarded medals were accredited or certified sustainable. Such medal winners are awarded ‘Pure’ status. This year 92% of the entries were accredited, up from 75% last year.
All of the 17 Sauvignon Blanc golds came from Marlborough, and all but 2 were from the 2012 vintage. It appears that 2012 has proven to be a very successful year for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Of the 15 Chardonnays, 7 were from Marlborough and 4 from Hawke’s Bay, and 10 of the golds were from the 2011 vintage. With the aromatic whites, 5 of the 9 Pinot Gris were Marlborough, and 6 were from 2012.
Lindauer Classic Rosé NV
Palliser Estate Méthode Traditionnelle 2007
Sauvignon Blanc
Ara Single Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Artisan The Sands Block Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Framingham Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Huntaway Limited Edition Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Kim Crawford Small Parcels Spitfire Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Matua Valley Estate Paretai Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Rapaura Springs Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Sileni Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Stoneleigh Rapaura Series Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012
The Kings Favour Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Tohu Mugwi Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Vicarage Lane Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Wither Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Yealands Estate Single Block Series M2 Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Aspiring Flats Bendigo Central Otago Riesling 2012
Drylands Marlborough Dry Riesling 2012
Rockburn Tigermoth Central Otago Riesling 2011
Eradus Wines Awatere Valley Pinot Gris 2012
Gibbston Valley La Dulcinee Pinot Gris 2012
Mud House Estate The Home Block Vineyard Waipara Valley Pinot Gris 2011
Spy Valley Pinot Gris 2012
Stoneleigh Pinot Gris 2012
Tiki Estate Waipara Valley Pinot Gris 2011
Villa Maria Private Bin East Coast Pinot Gris 2012
Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Gris 2012
Gewürztraminer
Lawson’s Dry Hills Gewürztraminer 2010
Waimea Gewürztraminer 2012
17 Seventeen Valley Chardonnay 2011
Giesen The Brothers Marlborough Chardonnay 2011
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 10 Twin Hills Chardonnay 2011
Vidal Legacy Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2010
Vidal Legacy Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2011
Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2010
Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2011
Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2011
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2010
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2011
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2011
Coopers Creek SV Gisborne Albariño ‘Bell-Ringer’ 2012
Akarua Central Otago Alchemy Ice 2012
Greystone Waipara Valley Basket Star Riesling 2011
Lawson’s Dry Hills Late Harvest Riesling 2010
Osawa Wines Late Harvest Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2011
Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Noble Riesling Botrytis Selection 2011
Ara Resolute Pinot Noir 2011
Bird Big Barrel Pinot Noir 2011
Charcoal Gully Central Otago Sallys Pinch Pinot Noir 2011
Domain Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
Esk Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2011
Forrest Tatty Bogler Pinot Noir 2010
Gibbston Valley School House Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011
Grasshopper Rock Central Otago Earnscleugh Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010
Judge Rock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010
Last Chance by Two Paddocks Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 14 Doctor’s Creek Pinot Noir 2011
Scott Base Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011
Söderberg Single Vineyard Home Block Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010
Villa Maria Private Bin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir 2009
Wooing Tree Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010
Merlot
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2010
Coopers Creek SV Hawke’s Bay Syrah ‘Chalk Ridge’ 2011
Passage Rock Reserve Waiheke Island Syrah 2010
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2011
Vidal Legacy Series Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2009
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2010
Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2009
Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot/Cabernet Blend
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Merlot Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2010
Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2007
Trinity Hills Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2010
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Grenache 2010
