The trophy winners of the 2012 Air New Zealand Wine Awards were announced at the black-tie awards dinner last night in Wellington’s TSB Arena. The trophy for ‘Champion Wine of the Show’ was awarded to Grasshopper Rock Earnscleugh Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010. This was a popular award with much talk and speculation beforehand that this wine from the Alexandra district might be the supreme wine, with many critics and commentators putting this wine as their choice. It will be a memorable occasion for Phil Handford, his fellow partners in the business, and for winemaker Peter Bartle of VinPro.
Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show
Grasshopper Rock ‘Earnscleugh Vineyard’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010
O-I New Zealand Reserve Wine of the Show
Matua Valley ‘Single Vineyard’ Marlborough Chardonnay 2011
Label and Litho Limited Champion Sauvignon Blanc
Wither Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Rabobank New Zealand Limited Champion Chardonnay
Matua Valley ‘Single Vineyard’ Marlborough Chardonnay 2011
Guala Closures NZ Champion Pinot Gris
Eradus Awatere Valley Marlborough Pinot Gris 2012
Plant & Food Research Champion Riesling
Aspiring Flats Bendigo Central Otago Riesling 2012
Coast FM Champion Gewürztraminer
Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2010
BDO Champion Other White and Rosé Wine
Coopers Creek ‘SV Bell-Ringer’ Gisborne Albariño 2012
Wineworks Champion Sparkling Wine
Lindauer ‘Classic’ Rosé NV
Kapiti Champion Dessert Wine
Greystone ‘Basket Star’ Waipara Valley Riesling 2011
JF Hillebrand New Zealand Ltd Champion Pinot Noir
Grasshopper ‘Earnscleugh Vineyard’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010
Fruitfed Supplies Limited Champion Syrah
Passage Rock ‘Reserve’ Waiheke Island Syrah 2010
New Zealand Winegrowers Champion Merlot
Villa Maria ‘Reserve’ Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2010
Gold Medal Vintage Insurance Champion Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot/Cabernet Blend
Esk Valley ‘Winemakers Reserve’ Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
New Zealand Winegrowers Champion Other Red Wine
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Tempranillo 2010
New World Champion Open White Wine
Wither Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Fairfax Media Champion Open Red Wine
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011
Waitoa Free Range Chicken Champion Exhibition White or Sparkling Wine
Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Ihumatao’ Auckland Chardonnay 2011
Vidal ‘Legacy Series’ Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2009
Following are the Pure Elite and Elite Gold medal winning wines of the 2012 Air N.Z. Wine Awards. For more information, go to www.airnzwineawards.co.nz
Wither Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Pure Elite Gold
