Born from the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, and morphing into this new event; albeit having that A&P Show heritage/background – looking to ‘improve the breed’ and so forth… Judging took place at the Kumeu Showgrounds back at the end of September; and today was the Awards lunch and Trophy presentations. Held at the Auckland Hilton, it is a formal lunch, with the winning wines arriving on your table as the trophies are announced, and matched to some really rather good food.
As you arrive there are glasses of sparkling wine on offer. This is the Champion Sparkling wine, but you’re left to wonder just what it is, as the waiters are pouring from a bottle swaddled in cloth – all to be revealed as the first award of the day. Canapés include oysters with a zesty mignette dressing and a crunchy crostini topped with melt-in-your-mouth beef tataki. It’s just a bit hot standing around today, so most of the men’s jackets were off, and possibly one too many glasses downed – got to keep hydrated.
Talking of hydration, I gulped down a pint of water once we were off to our tables – and it is a sponsor’s product – Antipodes Water – and very good stuff it is too. Thirsty work, mingling and slurping down oysters. I’m always happy if there’s an award winner on the table – last time this was on I was sat next to Leith Ashworth for his Junction Pinot Gris triumph. Today I have a double winner – Krystal Palmer – representing Mud House, and taking home the Champion Riesling and Champion Merlot trophies. She was also a fellow Associate judge on the same panel as me, so it is a big cheer for KP!!
I’m not going to review every wine – I’ll find a list and post at the end of this article, but you’re always wondering “what will win Champion Wine of Show?” as the day progresses, and I thought there were a few contenders. It’s a bit of a cliché that it is usually a Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir that wins, so I’m kind of hoping for a change to that. I’d have to say that the Champion Sparkling – it was yet another win for that Lindauer Vintage Series Brut Cuvée 2017 – would have been a worthy winner in my book. Just incredible that this has now won so many trophies – is it five??!
Reds were strong. The Champion Syrah was a superb Giesen Single Vineyard Clayvin Syrah 2021. The Pinot Noir was Providore Pinot Noir 2019, and the Champion Cabernet saw Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2020 back on winning ways. Great to see a riesling winning the Heritage Class – with the excellent Mt Maude Reserve East Block Riesling taking out the big Rosebowl Trophy. They had entered wines from 2012, 2016 and 2021 for that judging. Readers will also know that Maude won the Top 10 tasting of Riesling, here on Winefolio – with their Mt Maude Dry Riesling – www.winefolio.co.nz/?p=4970
Whites were a mixed bag – I liked the Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022, that won that class, a lot. Askerne are label on the rise – they are just on a roll at the moment, and took out two Champion Trophies – for two of their strongest wines – Askerne Reserve Gewürztraminer 2021, and the Trophy for ‘Other Whites’ with Askerne Viognier 2021. I judged the latter and that wine was a clear winner in that class. The Chardonnay went on to win the overall competition – Isabel Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 was also the Champion Wine of the Show, and helped Jeremy McKenzie win the coveted Winemaker of the Show Award too.
Apart from the very hot conditions in the entry foyer, this was a really well-run event, and the food does deserve a mention. Great oysters, some succulent tuna served with pickled cucumber accompanied the white wines. The duck done three ways, and a delicious salmon fillet with saffron sauce later on. Service was spot on – and we all know the challenges for staffing just now (well done Jacinda!) so everyone was happy.
Here is the full list of Awards – and Congratulations to all.
Rapid Labels Trophy for Champion Sparkling – LINDAUER VINTAGE SERIES BRUT CUVEE 2017
NZ Couriers Trophy for Champion Gewürztraminer – ASKERNE RESERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2021
Antipodes Trophy for Champion Riesling – MUD HOUSE SINGLE VINEYARD THE MOUND RIESLING 2021
Dish Magazine Trophy for Champion Pinot Gris – DUCK HUNTER MARLBOROUGH PINOT GRIS 2022
Guala Closures NZ Trophy for Champion Sauvignon Blanc – YEALANDS ESTATE SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022
New World Trophy for Champion Chardonnay – ISABEL ESTATE MARLBOROUGH CHARDONNAY 2020
Trophy for Champion Other White Varieties – ASKERNE VIOGNIER 2021
winejobsonline.com Trophy for Champion Sweet Wine – VILLA MARIA RESERVE NOBLE RIESLING 2021
Wineworks Trophy for Champion Rosé- SQUAWKING MAGPIE FIRST FLIGHT STARTLED PINK 2022
Rural News Group Trophy for Champion Pinot Noir- PROVIDORE PINOT NOIR 2019
Fruitfed Trophy for Champion Cabernet – VILLA MARIA RESERVE GIMBLETT GRAVELS HAWKES BAY CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT 2020
Trophy for Champion Merlot – MUD HOUSE HAWKE’S BAY MERLOT 2021
Trophy for Champion Syrah – GIESEN SINGLE VINEYARD CLAYVIN SYRAH 2021
Trophy for Champion Other Red Varieties – LEFTFIELD HAWKE’S BAY MALBEC 2020
Guala Closures NZ Award for Best Presented Screwcap Bottle – TE KANO ESTATE CENTRAL OTAGO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021
Mainfreight Trophy for Champion Export Wine – BLIND RIVER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022
Auckland A&P Association Heritage Rosebowl – MOUNT MAUDE RESERVE EAST BLOCK RIESLING 2012, 2016, 2021
Auckland A&P Association Winemaker of the Show – JEREMY MCKENZIE – ISABEL ESTATE
