The trophy winning wines from the 2014 Air N.Z. Wine Awards were announced at the awards dinner in Hawke’s Bay last night. The Champion Wine of the Show was the Vidal ‘Legacy’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013, and the Reserve Wine of the Show was the Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Southern Clays’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012. The results continue the dominance of the Villa Maria group at domestic and international competitions and highlight the work of Vidal Estate winemaker Hugh Crichton with Chardonnay made in a contemporary style.
Trophy results often put forward wines that some commentators see as being unusual and divisive, reflecting the subjective nature of the trophy judging process. From my perspective, this year’s trophies look particularly strong, with the winners possessing a strong provenance and track record, reflecting a confident direction and astute understanding of the state of the New Zealand industry by the judges chaired by Michael Brajkovich MW. www.airnzwineawards.co.nz
Following is a list of the trophy winners as well as the Pure Elite Gold Medal winning wines, the latter being the highest scoring golds and wines made from fruit accredited by the Sustainable Winegrowing programme. The requirement of ‘Elite’ distinction is somewhat controversial, as it relegates a portion of the gold medal results into a ‘second class’ category. However it also reflects the very high standards being attained by many of this country’s producers.
Trophy Winners
Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show
Vidal ‘Legacy’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013
O-I New Zealand Reserve Wine of the Show
Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Southern Clays’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012
JF Hillebrand New Zealand Ltd Champion Pinot Noir
Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Southern Clays’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012
Label and Litho Limited Champion Sauvignon Blanc
Saint Clair ‘Wairau Reserve’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Rabobank New Zealand Limited Champion Chardonnay
Vidal ‘Legacy’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013
BDO New Zealand Limited Champion Other White Styles and Rosé
Falconhead Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2013
Bite Magazine Champion Sweet White Wine
Giesen ‘The Brothers’ Marlborough Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Coast FM Champion Merlot, Cabernet and Blends
Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec 2013
Fruitfed Supplies Limited Champion Syrah
Church Road ‘McDonald Series’ Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2012
Guala Closures NZ Champion Pinot Gris
Sea Level Nelson Pinot Gris 2014
ICIB Gold Medal Insurance Champion Gewürztraminer
Spy Valley Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2013
Liquorland Champion Open Red Wine
Saint Clair ‘Premium’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013
New World Champion Open White Wine
Forrest ‘The Doctors’ Marlborough Riesling 2014
Plant & Food Research Champion Riesling
Forrest ‘The Doctors’ Marlborough Riesling 2014
Wineworks Champion Sparkling Wine
Tohu ‘Rewa’ Marlborough Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blanc 2011
Business World Travel Champion Exhibition Red Wine
Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013
Waitoa Free Range Chicken Champion Exhibition White or Sparkling Wine
Vidal ‘Legacy’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2012
Pure Elite Golds
Sparkling
Osawa Wines ‘Prestige Collection’ Sparkling NV
Tohu ‘Rewa’ Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blanc 2011
Gewurztraminer
Spy Valley Gewürztraminer 2013
Pinot Gris
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2013
Mount Michael Pinot Gris 2014
Sea Level Pinot Gris 2014
Terra Sancta ‘Lola’s Block’ Pinot Gris 2013
Waimea Pinot Gris 2014
Riesling
Forrest ‘The Doctor’s Riesling 2014
Highfield Riesling 2013
Vidal Estate Marlborough Riesling 2014
Villa Maria ‘Cellar Selection’ Marlborough Dry Riesling 2013
Villa Maria ‘Reserve’ Marlborough Dry Riesling 2012
Sauvignon Blanc
Giesen ‘The August’ Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Kim Crawford ‘Small Parcels’ Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Saint Clair ‘Pioneer Block 3 – 43 Degrees’ Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Saint Clair ‘Wairau Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Sileni ‘The Straits’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014
The King’s Favour Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Tohu ‘Mugwi Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Chardonnay
Coopers Creek ‘SV – The Limeworks’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013
Osawa Wines ‘Prestige Collection’ Chardonnay 2013
Vidal ‘Legacy’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013
Vidal ‘Legacy’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2012
Vidal ‘Legacy’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2010
Other White Styles
Falconhead Viognier 2013
Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ Albariño 2014
Sweet White Wine
Giesen ‘The Brothers’ Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Rosé
Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2014
Pinot Noir
Gibbston Valley ‘Glenlee’ Pinot Noir 2013
Greystone Pinot Noir 2013
Hawkdun Rise Pinot Noir 2011
Lowburn Ferry ‘Home Block’ Pinot Noir 2013
Saint Clair ‘Premium’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013
Saint Clair ‘Pioneer Block 22 – Barn Block’ Pinot Noir 2012
Spy Valley Pinot Noir 2012
Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Southern Clays’ Pinot Noir 2012
Merlot, Cabernet and Blends
Crossroads ‘Winemakers Collection’ Cabernet/Merlot 2012
Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec 2013
Matua ‘Single Vineyard – Matheson’ Merlot Malbec 2013
Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ Merlot 2013
Syrah
Church Road ‘McDonald Series’ Syrah 2012
Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ Syrah 2013
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013
Other Red Styles
Mudbrick ‘Velvet’ 2013
