The trophy winning wines of the 2018 New Zealand International Wine Show were announced at the awards dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Auckland last night. The Champion Wine of the Show was the Matt Connell Wines ‘Rendition’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017.
Chardonnay has been the most winning variety taking the top award at the show 10 times since the shows inception in 2005, with Pinot Noir only twice and a Shiraz once, so it is good to see Pinot Noir feature again. The Winemaker of the Show was Stu Marfell of Foley Family Wines, best known for his winemaking at Vavasour in Marlborough. It comes as no surprise that the Champion Wine Company of the Year was Villa Maria who won 4 trophies, 18 golds, 18 silvers and 57 bronze medals. This is a continuation of the dominance that this company has had at wine shows over decades of wine competitions.
Trophy Winners
Here are the trophy winners from the show. For a list of the 257 gold medals and my analysis of the gold medal winners, click here, and for all the gold, silver and bronze medal winners, go to www.nziws.co.nz
EuroVintage Trophy for Champion Sauvignon Blanc
Grove Mill Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Grove Mill Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
MOBEV Trophy for Champion Pinot Gris
Three Miners ‘Miner’s Right’ Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018
Three Miners ‘Miner’s Right’ Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018
Kahurangi Estate Trophy for Champion Riesling
Two Rivers Juliet Riesling 2018
Two Rivers Juliet Riesling 2018
Rapid Labels Trophy for Champion Gewürztraminer
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Gewürztraminer 2017
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Gewürztraminer 2017
Procure Trophy for Champion Chardonnay
Te Awa Single Estate Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2017
Te Awa Single Estate Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2017
Land of Wine Trophy for Champion Other White Wine Varieties
Tahbilk Marsanne 2014
Tahbilk Marsanne 2014
Kahurangi Estate Trophy for Champion Champagne & Methode Traditionelle
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut 2008
New Zealand Wine and Spirit Merchants Trophy for Champion New Zealand Sparkling Wine
Deutz Rosé NV
Vino Fino Trophy for Champion Sweet Wine
Forrest Botrytised Riesling 2017
Forrest Botrytised Riesling 2017
New Zealand Wine and Spirit Merchants Trophy for Champion Commercial White Wine
Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Riesling 2016
Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Riesling 2016
Guala Closures NZ Trophy for Champion Rosé
Domain Road Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2018
Domain Road Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2018
Negociants NZ Trophy for Champion Champion Pinot Noir
Matt Connell Wines Rendition Pinot Noir 2017
Matt Connell Wines Rendition Pinot Noir 2017
Phase Trophy for Champion New Zealand Bordeaux Red Wine
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2016
EuroVintage Trophy for Champion Cabernet Sauvignon & Predominant Blends
Penny’s Hill Edwards Road McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Penny’s Hill Edwards Road McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Vintners Trophy for Champion Merlot & Predominant Blends
Church Road McDonald Series Hawkes Bay Merlot 2015
Church Road McDonald Series Hawkes Bay Merlot 2015
Vintners Trophy for Champion New Zealand Syrah
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2014
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2014
San Pellegrino Trophy for Champion Shiraz/Syrah & Predominant Blends
Reillys Dry Land Clare Valley Shiraz 2016
Reillys Dry Land Clare Valley Shiraz 2016
Riedel Trophy for Champion International Red Wine Varieties
Vigne Vecchie Leggenda Primitivo Di Manduria 2016
Vigne Vecchie Leggenda Primitivo Di Manduria 2016
MOBEV Trophy for Champion Commercial Red Wine
Kingston Estate Shiraz 2017
Wine Orbit Trophy for Champion Fortified Wine
Croft Vintage Port 2011
Croft Vintage Port 2011
New Zealand International Wine Show Trophy for Champion Avant Garde Label of the Show
Take it to the Grave Shiraz 2017
Take it to the Grave Shiraz 2017
New Zealand International Wine Show Trophy for Champion Outstanding Wine Label of the Year
One Off Clone Wars Chardonnay 2017
One Off Clone Wars Chardonnay 2017
First Glass Champion Wine Company of the Year
Villa Maria
Villa Maria
Nissan NZ Champion Winemaker of the Show
Stu Marfell – Foley Family Wines
Stu Marfell – Foley Family Wines
Nissan NZ Champion Wine of the Show
Matt Connell Wines Rendition Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Matt Connell Wines Rendition Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Legend of New Zealand Wine – The Sir George Fistonich Medal
The New Zealand International Wine Show states: “Many people have played important roles in making New Zealand wine the success that it now is. Each year the New Zealand International Wine Show will honour the person that has been selected for his or her outstanding contribution to New Zealand wine. To acknowledge that person, a special award has been created and named in honour of a person who unquestionably has made one of the greatest contributions to the New Zealand Wine Industry. The award will be known each year as The Sir George FistonichMedal.”
I was honoured to be the 2017 recipient of the award. This year the award went to Tim and Judy Finn of Neudorf Vineyards in Nelson. Here are the people awarded the medal to date:
2018 – Tim and Judy Finn
2017 – Raymond Chan
2016 – Richard Riddiford (awarded posthumously)
2015 – Clive Weston
2014 – Steve Smith MW
2013 – Peter and Joe Babich
2012 – Vic Williams
2011 – Alan Brady
2010 – Kate Radburnd
2009 – Michael Cooper ONZM
2008 – Larry McKenna
2007 – Terry Dunleavy MBE, FWINZ
2006 – Kevin Judd
2005 – Bob Campbell MW
2017 – Raymond Chan
2016 – Richard Riddiford (awarded posthumously)
2015 – Clive Weston
2014 – Steve Smith MW
2013 – Peter and Joe Babich
2012 – Vic Williams
2011 – Alan Brady
2010 – Kate Radburnd
2009 – Michael Cooper ONZM
2008 – Larry McKenna
2007 – Terry Dunleavy MBE, FWINZ
2006 – Kevin Judd
2005 – Bob Campbell MW
