NZ wines dominate 2009 New World Wine Awards

Media release

For immediate release

Thursday 17 September

New Zealand wines dominate 2009 New World Wine Awards

The range of top quality, affordable wines being produced in New Zealand is highlighted by the results in the 2009 New World Wine Awards. This year New Zealand wines accounted for 70% of entries, up from 57% last year, and took home around two thirds of all medals awarded.

Overall, there were 1,073 New Zealand and international wines entered, up from 837 last year, reflecting increasing recognition by winemakers of the value of these awards.

“The New World Wine Awards has an important place amongst all the various wine awards because it is so strongly consumer-focused, with affordability and availability of the wines being the key criteria for entry,” says Jim Harré, Chair of the 2009 New World Wine Awards judging panel.

An expert panel of 13 independent judges spent two days blind-tasting and evaluating the wines in Wellington on 28-29 July. Each wine entered into the competition is judged according to the same internationally-recognised points system as other leading wine awards.

The judges awarded a total of 36 Gold, 136 Silver and 380 Bronze medals after ranking the colour, taste and smell of each wine, based on its individual merits.  Of those winners, New Zealand wines claimed 22 Golds, 80 Silver and 245 Bronze medals. Wines from the Marlborough region won the most medals (144) ahead of Hawkes Bay (102).

Following a separate ‘taste’-off of the best wines in each category by all the judges, the following awards were made:

·         Best Red Wine – Grant Burge Miamba Shiraz 2007 (Australia)

·         Best White Wine – Stoneleigh Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 (New Zealand)

·         Best Sparking Wine – Montana Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvee (New Zealand)

“In terms of the varietals that stood out – based on the proportion of medals awarded out of those entered – Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were the leading whites.

“Of the reds, although there were fewer Shiraz/Syrah entries than last year, it was the highest performing varietal with 72% of those entered winning a medal. While Pinot Noir is traditionally viewed as an expensive varietal, it also performed well with 57% of those entered winning a medal,” says Mr Harré.

A top 50 selection of the award winning wines will be showcased in the 2009 New World Wine Awards booklet that includes tasting notes and food matches for each wine.

Wines entered into the competition must retail for below $25 per bottle, and there must be at least 500 cases of each wine available for sale.

The medal-winning wines will be on sale in all New World Supermarkets from Monday 21 September and showcased online at www.newworld.co.nz.

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