Pinot Noir stars at Air NZ awards
The judges awarded 112 gold medals out of 1552 entries.
The 2013 vintage’s crop of Pinot Noir produced the biggest ever number of gold medal winners in the 2014 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
The awards attracted a total of 1552 entries from the country's winemakers, from which the judges selected 112 gold medal winners, 226 silver and 411 bronze.
The medals are awarded according to points system.
Chief judge Michael Brajkovich says the 27 golds for Pinot Noir exceeded both those in Sauvignon Blanc (19) and Chardonnay (17), confirming predictions the 2013 vintage was excellent for winemakers.
Half of the Sauvignon Blancs were from the 2014 vintage, also considered an excellent one in Marlborough.
Central Otago (14) dominated the Pinot Noirs with Marlborough (9) a strong runner up. The majority were from the 2013 vintage.
The 2013 vintage produced 10 golds for other reds, while Reisling (10) and Pinot Gris (8) were also strong categories.
"Sticky" dessert wines also put in a strong performance with six golds, made up of four Noble Rieslings and two from Sauvignon Blanc.
Among the new varietals, Albarino won two golds for entries from Matua (Hawke's Bay) and Villa Maria (Gisborne), while Matua's Arneis (Gisborne) and Nautilus' Gruener Vietliner (Marlborough) scored one each.
Price is no guarantee of gold medal status.
Among the Pinot Noirs, prices range from $25 for Foley Family Wines' Te Kairanga (Wairarapa) and Gladstone's 12,000 Miles (Wairarapa) to $65 for Gibbston Valley's Glenlee (Central Otago).
Among the Chardonnays, three Vidals Legacy Hawke's Bay from 2010, 2012 and 2013 all sell for $50 while Hunters' Stoneburn Marlborough 2013 goes for $15.
Villa Maria scooped the largest number of gold medals for winemakers, with 11 over six categories for its main brand, five for Vidals and three for Esk Valley.
The elite gold and trophy awards will be presented at a NZ Winegrowers' dinner in Hawke's Bay on Saturday, November 22.
Nevil Gibson for NBR Food Industry Week
Wed, 19 Nov 2014
Wed, 19 Nov 2014
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Pinot Noir stars at Air NZ awards
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