New Zealand Organic Wine Awards 2018 – The Results

The results of the 2018 New Zealand Organic Wine Awards have been announced. The ‘Riedel Wine of the Show’ was awarded to the Carrick ‘Josephine’ Central Otago Riesling 2017. The ‘Vintec Sustainable Vineyard of the Year’ was awarded to Millton, in Gisborne, and the ‘Riedel Vineyard of the Year’ was awarded to Terrace Edge, in North Canterbury.

2018 is the fifth year running of this competition which has the aim of finding and promoting this country’s best organic wines. This is the only wine show in New Zealand dedicated to organic wines and has Luke Thomas as the Awards Co-Ordinator. The competition has been growing and Thomas reports that there were 34 vineyards participating, a 20% increase over last year. The number of wines entered for judging has also increased to 162, compared to 139 in 2017.

Of the 162 wines entered, 25 (15.43%) were awarded gold, 30 (18.52%) went silver and 33 (20%) won bronze, making a total of 88 (53.33%) winning an award. The organisers note that the proportion of golds awarded is higher than most other shows, and attribute it to the ‘best’ wines entered by many wineries. It can be pointed out that the number of bronzes and overall number of wines obtaining an award is somewhat lower that other shows, indicating the strict judging. The organiser summarises the results of the major classes in his report which can be seen in the ‘full press release’ at www.organicwineawards.co.nz/2018-results/ One interesting finding was that there were no orange/skin fermented wines were entered this year, attributable to their low success rate at shows and a possible reduction in their production.

The judging was conducted in Christchurch on 14, 21 and 22 April, by a static panel of 8 judges, who are industry personnel, but are anonymous at this stage. www.organicwineawards.co.nz

Here are the results of the 2018 New Zealand Organic Wine Awards, listing the major awards, followed by gold, silver and bronze awards.

NZ Organic Wine Awards ‘Riedel Wine of the Show’: Carrick Josephine Riesling 2017
NZ Organic Wine Awards ‘Vintec Sustainable Vineyard of the Year’: Millton
NZ Organic Wine Awards ‘Riedel Vineyard of the Year’: Terrace Edge

Champion Pinot Noir: Black Estate Netherwood Pinot Noir 2015
Champion Sauvignon Blanc: Amisfield Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Champion Riesling: Carrick Josephine Riesling 2017
Champion Pinot Gris: Terrace Edge Pinot Gris 2017
Champion Chardonnay: Giesen The Fuder Clayvin Chardonnay 2014
Champion Syrah: Terrace Edge Syrah 2016
Champion Rose: Villa Maria Single Vineyard Braided Gravels Organic Rose2017
Champion Sparkling: Quartz Reef Methode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2013

Gold
Black Estate Netherwood Pinot Noir 2015
Urlar Select Parcels Pinot Noir 2016
Quartz Reef Bendigo Estate Single Ferment 2016
Aurum Madeleine Pinot Noir 2015
Giesen Single Vineyard Ridge Block Pinot Noir 2014
Konrad Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2017
The Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Amisfield Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Carrick Josephine Riesling 2017
Peregrine WiineRastasburn Riesling 2016
Carrick Bannockburn Riesling 2016
Terrace Edge Liquid Geography Riesling 2017
Giesen The Fuder Clayvin Chardonnay 2014
Millton “Opou” Chardonnay 2016
Muddy Water Chardonnay 2015
Wrights Reserve Gisborne Chardonnay 2016
Terrace Edge Syrah 2016
Terrace Edge Pinot Gris 2017
Huia Pinot Gris 2017
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Braided Gravels Organic Rose 2017
Terrace Edge Rose 2016
Loveblock Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2014
Amisfield Chenin Blanc 2017
Misty Cove Waitaria Organic Barrel Wine 2016
Quartz Reef Methode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2013

Silver
The Darling Pinot Noir 2014
Domaine-Thomson “Explorer” Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Odyssey Marlborough Reserve Iliad Pinot Noir 2016
Aurum Mathilde Pinot Noir 2015
Momo Pinot Noir 2016
Quartz Reef Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
Black Estate Damsteep Pinot Noir 2016
Urlar Sauviugnon Blanc 2017
Urlar Select Parcels Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Tapi Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Misty Cove Marlborough Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Little Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Greystone Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Peregrine Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Greystone Riesling 2017
Terrace Edge Classic Riesling 2016
Carrick Bannockburn Chardonnay 2016
Kaimira Estate Brightwater Chardonnay 2016
Te Mania Chardonnay 2016
Urlar Select Parcels Noble Riesling 2017
Richmond Plains Blanc de Noir 2017
Carrick Electric Number 1 2017
Peregerine Rose 2017
Carrick Bannockburn Pinot Gris 2016
Greystone Pinot Gris 2017
The Darling Pinot Gris 2016
Giesen The Fuder Dillons Point Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Amisfield Pinot Gris 2017
Muddy Water Pinotage 2016

Bronze
Muddy Water Pinot Noir 2016
Tapi Pinot Noir 2016
Aurum Estate Pinot Noir 2016
Carrick Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2015
Black Estate Home Pinot Noir 2016
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Attorney Organic Pinot Noir 2015
Giesen Single Vineyard Clayvin Pinot Noir 2014
Richmond Plains Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Richmond Plains Blue Moon Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Babich Family Estates Headwaters Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Odyssey Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Loveblock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Peregrine Riesling 2017
Urlar Riesling 2016
Kaimira Estate Brightwater Riesling Iti Selection 2015
Wrights Estate Gisborne Charonnay 2017
Black Estate Home Chardonnay 2017
The Darling Chardonnay 2015
Carrick Billet-Doux Pinot Noir 2016
Richmond Plains Syrah 2015
Villa Maria Private Bin Hawkes Bay Organic Merlot 2016
Millton “Te Arai” Chenin Blanc 2016
Huia Gewurztraminer 2016
Richmond Plains Rose 2017
TOSQ Flora ‘Entwined’ Flora 2016
Peregrine Pinot Gris 2017
Momo Pinot Gris 2017
Quartz Reef Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2017
Babich Family Estates Headwaters Organic Pinot Gris 2017
Tua Marina Vineyards Arneis 2016
Tua Marina Vineyards Arneis 2017