Hawke’s Bay no bridesmaid at Air NZ Wine Awards

26 November 2014

Hawke’s Bay no bridesmaid at Air NZ Wine Awards

Hawke’s Bay may be the second largest wine region in this country, but it definitely takes the lead in producing award-winning wines across a broad range of varietals as evidenced at New Zealand’s premier wine competition, the Air New Zealand Wine Awards announced this week.

The tally at the 2014 competition, ironically held in Hawke’s Bay for the first time in eight years, saw the region take out the Champion Wine of the Show, plus six more of the seventeen trophies, and over a third of the pure elite gold awards.

“Hawke’s Bay is indisputably one of the country’s premier wine growing regions recognised domestically as well as internationally. Our wins solidify our standing especially in varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet and blends, Syrah and, of course, Chardonnay,” says James Medina, HBWG Executive Officer.

Chardonnay was the particular standout of this show for Hawke’s Bay. Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 took overall honours, while Hawke’s Bay wineries won all four Chardonnay Pure Elite Gold medals awarded and six of the thirteen Elite Gold Medals.

Chair of Judges and Master of Wine, Michael Brajkovich, said the Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 stood out in a very strong line-up of varietal trophy winners.

“The Champion Wine of the Show is a very good example of the new wave of Chardonnay style we are seeing in New Zealand, but still borrows from the great white Burgundy tradition,” Mr Brajkovich said. “It has vibrant peach and nectarine fruit aromas seamlessly integrated with smoky toasted oak.”

Across all categories Hawke’s Bay won twenty six Pure Elite Gold and Elite Gold medals.

Excitement is growing within Hawke’s Bay on the back of the glowing results this week. “The outstanding local vintages of 2013 and 2014 are starting to come through the awards circuit and we’re expecting to continue to see strong wins in future shows,” says Mr Medina.

The Air New Zealand Wine Awards is the premier wine competition in New Zealand recognising excellence in winemaking. The competition is owned and organised by New Zealand Winegrowers, the national organisation for the country's 1700 grape growers and winemakers.

This year's 28th competition saw 1552 wines entered into 16 different classes. The entries were judged by an independent panel of 26 expert wine judges, including two international judges -David Brookes, a freelance wine journalist who contributes to Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE, Wine Companion and Wine & Spirits magazines; and Sebastian Braun, wine buyer for Swedish retail monopoly, Systembolaget.

AIR NEW ZEALAND WINE AWARDS 2014 - TROPHY WINNERS

Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show
Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013

O-I New Zealand Reserve Wine of the Show
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012

JF Hillebrand New Zealand Ltd Champion Pinot Noir
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012

Label and Litho Limited Champion Sauvignon Blanc
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Rabobank New Zealand Limited Champion Chardonnay
Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013

BDO New Zealand Limited Champion Other White Styles and Rosé
Falconhead Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2013

Bite Magazine Champion Sweet White Wine
Giesen The Brothers Marlborough Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Coast FM Champion Merlot, Cabernet and Blends
Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2013

Fruitfed Supplies Limited Champion Syrah
Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2012

Guala Closures NZ Champion Pinot Gris
Sea Level Nelson Pinot Gris 2014

ICIB Gold Medal Insurance Champion Gewürztraminer
Spy Valley Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2013

Liquorland Champion Open Red Wine
Saint Clair Marlborough Premium Pinot Noir 2013

New World Champion Open White Wine
Forrest The Doctors Marlborough Riesling 2014

Plant & Food Research Champion Riesling
Forrest The Doctors Marlborough Riesling 2014

Wineworks Champion Sparkling Wine
Tohu Rewa Marlborough Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blanc 2011

Business World Travel Champion Exhibition Red Wine
Matua Single Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013

Waitoa Free Range Chicken Champion Exhibition White or Sparkling Wine
Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2012

NUMBER OF TROPHIES BY REGION
Marlborough: 9
Hawke’s Bay: 7
Nelson: 1

NUMBER OF PURE ELITE GOLD MEDALS BY REGION
Marlborough: 19
Hawke’s Bay: 16
Central Otago: 5
Nelson: 4
Waipara Valley: 1
Waiheke Island: 1

PURE ELITE GOLD MEDALS
Sparkling
Osawa Wines Prestige Collection Sparkling NV
Tohu Rewa Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blanc 2011

Gewurztraminer
Spy Valley Gewürztraminer 2013

Pinot Gris
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2013
Mount Michael Pinot Gris 2014
Sea Level Pinot Gris 2014
Terra Sancta Lola's Block Pinot Gris 2013
Waimea Pinot Gris 2014

Riesling
Forrest The Doctors Riesling 2014
Highfield Riesling 2013
Vidal Estate Marlborough Riesling 2014
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Dry Riesling 2013
Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Dry Riesling 2012

Sauvignon Blanc
Giesen The August Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Kim Crawford Small Parcels Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 3 43 Degrees Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Sileni The Straits Estate Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014
The King’s Favour Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Tohu Mugwi Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Chardonnay
Coopers Creek SV Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 'The Limeworks' 2013
Osawa Wines Prestige Collection Chardonnay 2013
Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013
Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2012
Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2010

Other White Styles
Falconhead Viognier 2013
Matua Single Vineyard Albariño 2014

Sweet White Wine
Giesen The Brothers Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Rosé
Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2014

Pinot Noir
Gibbston Valley Glenlee Pinot Noir 2013
Greystone Pinot Noir 2013
Hawkdun Rise Pinot Noir 2011
Lowburn Ferry Home Block Pinot Noir 2013
Saint Clair Marlborough Premium Pinot Noir 2013
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 22 Barn Block Pinot Noir 2012
Spy Valley Pinot Noir 2012
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir 2012

Merlot, Cabernet and Blends
Crossroads Winemakers Collection Cabernet Merlot 2012
Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2013
Matua Single Vineyard Matheson Merlot Malbec 2013
Matua Single Vineyard Merlot 2013

Syrah
Church Road McDonald Series Syrah 2012
Matua Single Vineyard Syrah 2013
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013

Other Red Styles
Mudbrick Velvet 2013

ENDS

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