The 2023 Awards
Refined and thoughtful winemaking techniques have been celebrated by judges at the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
A panel of 17 judges tasted more than 550 entries last week, awarding 46 gold medals to wines of all varieties, from right across Marlborough’s subregions. Guest judge Emma Jenkins MW was impressed by the ability of winemakers to produce quality wines across the board, particularly following a few tricky vintages from 2021 - 2023.
For fellow guest judge Stephen Wong MW, Chardonnay was a ‘super standout’ of the show, with Pinot Noir entries also piquing his palette. Chief Judge Stu Marfell was very pleased with the quality of entries for 2023, and felt it was a true showcase of wine excellence in Marlborough. Read more in the press release here.
Trophy Medals | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals | Medal Sticker Form
QuayConnect Champion Wine of the Show 2023
Isabel Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021 has been crowned the Champion Wine of the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
Isabel Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021
NZ Wine Centre Legacy Award, sponsored by Marlborough Research Centre
The Legacy Award honours wines with pedigree and is awarded to the wine producer with the highest scores from three vintages within a ten-year period.
TOHU Rewa Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blancs
2011, 2014, 2016
Champion Wairau Valley
The Marlborough Wine Show Judges Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as subregional sub-classes and this year the highest awarded wine from each of these sub-classes will go up against the highest awarded subregional wines from every other class to identify and award a champion wine from the Wairau Valley.
Wine Marlborough Ltd Champion Wairau Valley
Isabel Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021
Champion Southern Valleys
The Marlborough Wine Show Judges Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as subregional sub-classes and this year the highest awarded wine from each of these sub-classes will go up against the highest awarded subregional wines from every other class to identify and award a champion wine from the Southern Valleys.
Fruitfed Supplies Champion Southern Valleys
Ara Resolute Pinot Noir 2021
Champion Awatere & South Marlborough
The Marlborough Wine Show Judges Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as subregional sub-classes and this year the highest awarded wine from each of these sub-classes will go up against the highest awarded subregional wines from every other class to identify and award a champion wine from Awatere & South Marlborough.
QuayConnect Champion Awatere & South Marlborough
Triplebank Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Wine of Provenance
The Provenance Award recognises the best single vineyard current release wine from any class.
The Coterie Wine of Provenance 2023
Isabel Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021
Champion Organic Wine
This award recognises excellence in Organic wines. It is awarded to the highest pointed gold medal winning Organic wine from any class, with a further tasting to select the best if required.
Vit Management Limited Champion Organic Wine 2023
Zephyr Chardonnay 2020
Champion Low Alcohol Wine
The lifestyle category is growing in engagement with both consumers and producers, and we would like to celebrate the significant innovation that is happening in this area.
Vintech Pacific Best Low Alcohol Wine
The Doctors' Riesling 2022
The 2022 Awards
Marisco Vineyards ‘The King’s Wrath’ Pinot Noir 2021 has been crowned the Champion Wine of the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect. The company wasn’t the only one to make waves with Pinot Noir; the variety shined at the 2022 competition, across all vintages and subregions. Chief Judge Ben Glover says there were some outstanding wines entered in this year’s competition, coming from some great vintages. “The 2020 and 2021 wines were superb, like the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The development of the Marlborough Pinot Noir style continues to evolve and evoke sublime poise and precision. These were a pleasure to judge and taste,” he says. “Lots of flavour and tannin, yet delicate and silky. Masterfully handled and presented, showing a definite pedigree for ageing.” “This was shown in the Legacy Class, where in a number of the Pinot Noir flights across 10 years, it was the older wine of the trifecta that shone and sung what is Pinot Noir.”
Trophy List | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals | Medal Sticker Form
The 2021 Awards
The excellence of Marlborough’s vintage this year shone through at the 2021 Marlborough Wine Show sponsored by QuayConnect.
Of the 18 trophies awarded, seven went to wines produced this year, including QuayConnect Champion Wine of the Show, which was awarded to Saint Clair’s Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021. The Saint Clair wine also was awarded the WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc trophy. Other wines from vintage 2021 to take out trophies include, Stoneleigh Latitude Pinot Gris, Wairau River Estate Summer Riesling, Wairau River Reserve Grüner Veltliner, Riverby Estate Rosé and Brancott Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc.
More than 540 wines were judged by a panel of 10, in October, with Chief Judge Ben Glover describing the line up as being exceptional.
Trophy List | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals | Medal Sticker Form
The 2020 Awards
The 2020 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, attracted a total of 604 wines, including 10 from students of NMIT and 69 entered into the Legacy Award. 49 Marlborough wines have been awarded Gold Medals. Chief Judge Ben Glover says the quality of the wines entered was outstanding. “They were pretty awesome to be honest, off the back of two excellent years, 2019 and 2020. The varietal gaining the most Gold Medals was Pinot Noir, with 12 awarded to wines produced in 2019. “These would be some of the very best Pinots to come out of Marlborough,” he says. “All very stylish and diverse, showing the true character of Marlborough and its sub-regions. They had a lovely nuance and subtlety, and are quite refined. Quite stunning.”
Trophy List | Gold Medal | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals | Medal Sticker Form
The 2019 Awards
More than 550 wines were entered in the 2019 competition, with Sauvignon Blanc the largest category, followed by Pinot Noir. Chief Judge Jack Glover says if one category stood out, it was the 2017 Pinot Noirs from the Southern Valley. “They were outstanding. The judging panel were very much in their happy place when they came across these wines.”
Trophy List | Gold Medal | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals | Medal Sticker Form