2024 will be a year that many will be glad to see the back of and what a way to end it right, by searching for the greatest local examples of sparkling wine, that most salubrious of pick-me-up sips. It’s a guaranteed mood-booster — one only needs to hear a cork pop and the grins erupt, because you know something special is happening.

So what were our judges looking for in fine sparkling wine? Cleansing acidity, biscuity, buttery, yeast autolysis, nutty complexity, a creamy, defined mouthfeel and definite persistence of fizz was paramount. And, most importantly, some kind of flavour x-factor that has you yearning for another glass.

We’ve said it at every sparkling tasting we’ve undertaken, our local producers are so skilled and talented, they reinforce how spoilt for choice we are as a nation to be able to enjoy world-class wines, at frankly eye-poppingly excellent prices when compared to Champagne.

And the industry is looking healthy. We had a record 78 entries across a number of different styles and a whopping 67 of them scooped medals. In addition to the delicious dozen awarded gold, our sensational silver medal winners are also listed online at dish.co.nz.

And with that...welcome to our winners!

TOP OF THE TASTING – Deutz Marlborough Blanc de Blancs 2019 ($31.00) – Gold Medal

Gorgeously golden in the glass and roaring with rising dough and bread-crust characters, which follow through to create delicious intensity, richness, and nutty concentration on the palate. Crafted entirely from chardonnay, it’s full-bodied, luxurious, and maintains superb balance of minerality, acidity, and citrus pith plushness. It boasts salivating, shortbread-like complexity, which adds to its incredible palate weight and unputdownability. A clear judges’ favourite from the first sip. thegoodwine.co.nz

2. Tohu Rewa Marlborough Blanc de Blancs 2017 ($39.00) – Gold Medal

Seven sleepy years in the bottle has created a powerhouse of a chardonnay-based sparkler that’s roaring with fresh red apple, almond and finely tuned citrus complexity. The pinprick-tiny bubbles elevate its nutty, biscuity finesse and accentuate its generous palate persistence. A stunning example. tohuwines.co.nz

3. BEST BUY – Lindauer Special Reserve Blanc de Blancs NV ($22.00) – Gold Medal

Classically styled, this wine received unanimously excellent scores from our judges for its biscuity, toasty richness, citrus pith and pastry-crust creaminess, and its delicately balanced finish. Great energy, lemon layers and luscious drinkability, it’s superb. Widely available in supermarkets.

4. Mora Central Otago Vintage Brut 2016 ($60.00) – Gold Medal

“Incredibly youthful” was the comment from every judge. Scented with lemon brioche and soft stonefruit notes, it’s pitch perfect on the palate with rich, creamy, hazelnutty nuances and a stylishly light, dry and persistent finish. Precision winemaking here. mora.co.nz

5. BEST BUY – Lindauer Special Reserve Brut NV ($22.00) – Gold Medal

With its golden-bronze colour and lifted, biscuit-boosted nose, this wine impressed our judges with its elegantly creamy palate, baked apple and lemon zest flavours, and lingering, nutty complexity. It’s vibrant, lively and ultra-long on flavour. Stylish and over-delivers in the deliciousness stakes. Widely available in supermarkets.

6. Deutz Marlborough Brut Rosé NV ($28.00) – Gold Medal

In addition to its attractive dusky rose colour, floral fragrance and berries-and- cream complexity, this wine has some serious persistence of mousse. That frisky, praline-scented foam is as unrelenting as a Greenpeace petition collector at the supermarket trolley bay. In a delicious way. Heavenly hazelnut notes complete the experience. thegoodwine.co.nz

7. Quartz Reef Central Otago Vintage Blanc de Blancs 2017 ($85.00) – Gold Medal

Each judge commented on the sublime vein of bright, cleansing, salinity in this wine. It ran through the nose and palate and wrapped around the soft citrus, textural core, and its lifted, almond and bagel dough finesse. There was something aristocratic about this wine. Cleansing, beautifully balanced and finishing with a beautifully textural finish, we loved it! quartzreef.co.nz

8. LV Marlborough Méthode Traditionnelle NV ($59.00) – Gold Medal

With its rich apple nose, aromatic delicacy and powerfully rich palate, this became an instant hit with our judges. Crafted by Louis Vavasour and his team, this classy example boasts apple strudel, almond and macadamia flavours, which roll into an exotic, elegant, refined palate showing solid textural length. Impressive. lvwine.co.nz

9. No.1 Family Estate Reserve Marlborough NV (magnum) ($287.00) – Gold Medal

This estate entered the same wine in both 750ml format and 1.5 litre format to see how the judges would evaluate them. Hands down, in the blind tasting it was the magnum that impressed our judges the most. How does that happen? It’s a tasty mystery, but the incredibly elegant stonefruit and citrus layers that merge with creamy walnut, almond and cashew characters in this magnum showed more profoundly. no1familyestate.co.nz

10. Margrain Vineyard Martinborough En Rose 2019 ($44.00) – Gold Medal

Very pretty salmon pink in the glass and throwing attractive toasty, yeasty, soft cherry, peach and almond meal aromatics with every sniff. Crisp and elegant to sip, with ultra-fine bead and acid balance. Refreshing and roaring with flavour. margrainvineyard.co.nz

11. BEST BUY – Lindauer Special Reserve Rosé NV ($22.00) – Gold Medal

Comments on this wine’s rich, creamy texture and fruit sweetness ran across the panel. A whisker of strawberry and apricot on its toasty, nutty nose then leads to a palate that’s juicy, complex and loaded with charm. We all noted its solid length of flavour too. Widely available in supermarkets.

*Best Buy status is given to sub-$25 wines achieving Gold Medal awards.

SILVER WINNERS