The trophy winners of the 2011 N.Z. International Wine Show were announced at the awards dinner on the night of 3 September. All of the trophy winners won gold medals and are as follows:
Nissan N.Z. Champion Wine of the Show
Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Keltern’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2010
2011 Wine Company of the Year
Negociants New Zealand Ltd.
Treasury Wine Estates Champion Chardonnay
Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Keltern’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2010
EuroVintage Champion Sauvignon Blanc
Maui Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Constellation N.Z. Champion Pinot Gris
Roaring Meg Central Otago Pinot Gris 2011
bizambrands Champion Viognier
Coopers Creek Gisborne Viognier 2010
Southern Wind Champion Riesling
Kaimira Estate ‘Iti Selection’ Brightwater Riesling 2011
Rapid Labels Champion Gewurztraminer
Distant Land Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2010
WineoftheWeek.com Champion Other White Varieties
Bimbadgen ‘Signature McDonalds Road’ Hunter Valley Semillon 2007
Federal Geo Champion Sweet Wine
Forrest Estate Botrytised Marlborough Riesling 2009
Red+White Cellar Champion Sparkling Wine
Champagne Ayala ‘Brut Majeur’ NV
First Glass Champion Rosé
Rolling Pink 2011
EuroVintage Champion Cabernet Sauvignon
Saltram ‘Mamre Brook’ Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Federal Geo Champion Merlot
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels ‘The Gimblett’ 2009
Vino Fino Champion Syrah
Wolf Blass ‘Gold Label’ Barossa Shiraz 2009
Negociants N.Z. Champion Pinot Noir
Olssens ‘Slapjack Creek’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009
Riedel Champion International Wine
Weeping Sands Waiheke Island Montepulciano 2010
Wine Orbit Champion Fortified Wine
Krohn Vintage Porto ‘Quinta do Retiro Novo’ 2007
EuroVintage Champion Commercial White Wine
Whitehaven Marlborough Chardonnay 2009
Constellation N.Z. Champion Commercial Red Wine
Wolf Blass ‘Gold Label’ Barossa Shiraz 2009
The award for ‘A Legend of New Zealand Wine’ and the recipient of The Sir George Fistonich Medal was Alan Brady. Alan was recognised for his pioneering work establishing Gibbston Valley Winery and thus setting the scene for the Central Otago vignoble, now internationally respected for its Pinot Noir wines. For my review of Alan Brady’s autobiographical book ‘Pinot Central’ where he recounts this part of his life, click here.
Alan Brady joins as recipients: 2010 – Kate Radburnd, 2009 – Michael Cooper ONZM, 2008 – Larry McKenna, 2007 – Terry Dunleavy MBE, FWINZ, 2006 – Kevin Judd and 2005 – Bob Campbell MW.
For a list gold medal winners and an analysis of the results, click here. For a full background of the N.Z. International Wine Show, visit the website, and also the Wine Show website for the full results.