Gold Medallists Announced in Air New Zealand Wine Awards

A team of expert judges have awarded 84 gold medals to wines from around New Zealand.

This year's Air New Zealand Wine Awards saw 1407 wines entered into the competition, resulting in 84 gold medals being awarded by the panel of judges.

Chair of Judges and Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich said the most pleasing aspect of this year’s awards was the spread of gold medals across a number of varietal styles and regions.

“Pinot Noir was once again the star performer with 18 golds. Predominantly the wines came from Otago, Marlborough and the Wairarapa, but Nelson, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noirs were also in the mix," Michael says.

“The top wines from other categories were exceptional, particularly from Chardonnay, Sparkling, Gewürztraminer and the Sweet White wines, and the quality of Hawke’s Bay Syrah continues to impress.”

In addition to the 84 gold medals, 220 silver medals and 551 bronze medals were also awarded by the judges, bringing the total number of medals awarded across the 16 different classes to 855.

The acclaimed trophy winning wines and winners of the elite gold medals will be revealed at a black tie dinner in Nelson on 28 November. 

The Gold Medallists (by region)

Auckland            

• SOHO Revolver Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec Waiheke Island 2014

Hawke's Bay     

• Babich The Patriarch Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013
• Beach House Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
• Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2013
• Church Road Grand Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
• Church Road McDonald Series Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
• Elephant Hill Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
• Esk Valley Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
• Junction Possession Pinot Noir Hawke’s Bay 2014
• Kim Crawford Small Parcels Wild Grace Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
• Matua Single Vineyard Syrah Hawke's Bay 2014
• Mission Estate Jewelstone Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014
• Newton Forrest Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Malbec Hawke’s Bay 2013
• Ngatarawa Proprietors Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013
• Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2014
• Selaks Founders Merlot Cabernet Hawke’s Bay 2014
• Sileni Estate Selection The Peak Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014
• Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
• Villa Maria Library Release Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2010
• Villa Maria Reserve Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014 

Wellington / Wairarapa              

• Craggy Range Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough 2013
• Gladstone Vineyard Rosé Wairarapa 2015
• Haythornthwaite Beverley Reserve Pinot Noir Martinborough 2013
• Julicher Pinot Noir Martinborough 2013
• Te Tera Pinot Noir Martinborough 2014

Nelson

• Brightwater Vineyards Pinot Gris Nelson 2015
• Brightwater Vineyards Pinot Noir Nelson 2014
• Seifried Winemaker Collection Sweet Agnes Riesling Nelson 2015
• Waimea Family Estate Albariño Nelson 2015

Marlborough    

• Allan Scott Family Winemakers Riesling Marlborough 2014
• Awatere River by Louis Vavasour Late Harvest Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2014
• Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
• Daniel Le Brun Methode Traditionnelle Blanc De Blanc 2009
• Dashwood Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
• Delta Hatters Hill Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
• Deutz Marlborough Cuvée Blanc de Blancs Méthode Traditionnelle 2011
• Giesen Single Vineyard Selection Ridge Block Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
• Giesen The Brothers Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
• Isabel Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
• Johanneshof Cellars Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2014
• Lake Chalice The Raptor Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
• Lawson's Dry Hills Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2014
• Lowlands Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
• Nautilus Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
• Nautilus Cuvee Marlborough Brut NV NV
• Peter Yealands Riesling Marlborough 2015
• Rapaura Springs Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
• Saint Clair Godfrey's Creek Reserve Pinot Gris Marlborough 2014
• Saint Clair Pioneer Block 10 Twin Hills Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
• Saint Clair Pioneer Block 11 Cell Block Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
• Saint Clair Pioneer Block 3 43 Degrees Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
• Saint Clair Premium Pinot Gris Marlborough 2014
• Saint Clair Premium Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
• Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
• Sileni Exceptional Vintage Pourriture Noble Marlborough 2014
• Spy Valley Envoy Riesling Marlborough 2010
• Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
• Starborough Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
• The Ned Waihopai River Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
• Tohu Mugwi Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
• Vidal Estate Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
• Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
• Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015
• Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
• Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
• Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013
• Volcanic Hills Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
• Whitehaven Chardonnay Marlborough 2014
• Whitehaven Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2014
• Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Gris Awatere Valley, Marlborough 2015

Canterbury        

• Greystone Pinot Gris Waipara Valley 2015
• The Boneline Waimanu Pinot Noir Waipara Valley 2014
• Waipara Springs Riesling Waipara Valley 2015

Central Otago   

• Akarua Vintage Brut 2010
• Akitu A2 Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
• Archangel Stefania Riesling Central Otago 2012
• Aspiring Flats Rosé Central Otago 2015
• Ceres Black Rabbit Vineyard Riesling Central Otago 2015
• Coal Pit Tiwha Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
• Fifth Bridge Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
• Greylands Ridge Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
• Kuru Kuru Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
• Tarras Vineyards Single Vineyard The Canyon Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014
• Terra Sancta Miro's Block Dry Riesling Central Otago 2014

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  For more information on the Air New Zealand Wine Awards visit www.airnzwineawards.co.nz