The results of the 2020 New World Wine Awards Top 50 have been released. Over 1,200 wines entered from 165 different wineries. Top 50 list includes a wide range of Gold-medal wines, from classic favourites like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir to an increasing number of ’emerging wines’ like Albariño, Malbec and Tempranillo. There are also six sparkling winners, including a Prosecco for the first time in history. The New World Wine Awards are unique in that the wine entered must retail at $25.00 or less, and that there must be at least 4,000 bottles available for sale or 2,000 for emerging varietals. The wines are judged to the same standards and internationally recognised points system as all other major wine shows. The Top 50 wines are then made available nationwide through the chain of New World supermarkets. www.newworld.co.nz
For the first time in its 18 year history, as a COVID-19 response, NWWA had taken the show on the road, hosted multiple regional judging events over 10 days in key wine regions around the country. The judging team made up of 18 wine experts led by Jim Harre, who blind-tasted and evaluated the wines over three days.
The full results of the 2020 New World Wine Awards are available on https://www.newworld.co.nz/discover/wine-awards
The website has plenty of information on the judging process with wine and food matches and other related subjects.
The Top 50 comprise of 5 Aromatics, 6 Sparkling, 6 Chardonnay, 5 Pinot Gris, 5 Pinot Noir, 2 Red Blends, 6 Rosé, 8 Sauvignon Blanc, 4 Shiraz/Syrah and 3 Single variety reds.
Here are the Top 50 Wines listed by variety. All are gold medal winners. The Champion Wine of each variety or category is noted:
Aromatics:
Mount Riley Marlborough Riesling 2020
Seifried Nelson Gewürztraminer 2020
The Crater Rim Waipara Viognier 2019
The Hunting Lodge Seasonal Collection Albariño 2020
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Riesling 2018 – Champion Aromatic
Bubbles:
Cinzano Prosecco D.O.C
Graham Norton’s Own Prosecco
Morton Estate Brut
Verde Brut
Lindauer Vintage Series Brut Cuvée 2017 – Champion Bubbles
Lindauer Vintage Series Rosé 2017
Chardonnay:
te Pā Chardonnay 2019
Clearview Estate Beachhead Chardonnay 2019
Lawson’s Dry Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2019
Church Road Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2019 – Champion Chardonnay
Stoneleigh Wild Valley Marlborough Chardonnay 2019
Leveret Estate Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2019
Pinot Gris:
Giesen Estate Pinot Gris 2019
Roaring Meg Pinot Gris 2019
Wither Hills Marlborough Pinot Gris 2019
Rocky Point Pinot Gris 2020
Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Pinot Gris 2019 – Champion Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir:
Borthwick Paper Road Pinot Noir 2019
Mount Brown Estates Pinot Noir 2019
Sugar Loaf Southern Valleys Pinot Noir 2019
The Crater Rim “From the Ashes” Pinot Noir 2019
Framingham Nobody’s Hero Pinot Noir 2019 – Champion Pinot Noir
Red Blends:
Church Road Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The Hunting Lodge Expressions Merlot Malbec 2019 – Champion Red Blend
Rosé:
Waiata Waipara Pinot Noir Rosé 2020
MIDDLE-EARTH™ Pinot Meunier Rosé 2020
Banrock Station Pink Moscato 2019
Mount Riley “The Bonnie” Pinot Rosé 2020 – Champion Rosé
Stoneleigh Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2020
SOHO White Collection Harry Rosé 2020
Sauvignon Blanc:
Waiata Waipara Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Alpha Domus Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Mount Riley Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Black Cottage Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Two Rivers Convergence Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – Champion Sauvignon Blanc
Squawking Magpie Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Rapaura Springs Classic Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Shiraz/Syrah:
Grant Burge 5th Generation Shiraz 2018 – Champion Shiraz & Syrah
Paritua Stone Paddock Syrah 2018
Woods Crampton Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Syrah 2019
Single Variety Red:
Latente Reserva Malbec 2017
De Bortoli Woodfired Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – Champion Single Variety Red
Running With Bulls Tempranillo 2019
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