Gold medals announced for 2016 Air New Zealand Wine Awards

Following three days of judging over 1,400 wines, 91 gold medals have been awarded in this year’s Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
 
Chair of Judges and Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich said the most pleasing aspect of this year’s awards was the spread of gold medals across a number of varieties and regions.

“Pinot Noir was once again the star performer with 17 golds. Predominantly the wines came from Marlborough and Central Otago, but a Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir was also in the mix.”

“The top wines from other categories were exceptional, particularly from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Syrah, and the quality of Hawke’s Bay Merlot and Cabernet-based wines took a big step up this year hailing from strong 2013 and 2014 vintages.”

In addition to the 91 gold medals, 268 silver medals and 973 bronze medals were awarded by the judges, bringing the total number of medals awarded across the 17 different classes to 1,332.

The ‘best of the best’ elite gold and trophy winning wines will be revealed at a black tie dinner in Auckland on 12 November. The dinner marks the 30th anniversary of the partnership between New Zealand Winegrowers and naming rights sponsor Air New Zealand.


  
About the event

The Air New Zealand Wine Awards are a celebration of excellence in New Zealand winemaking and are widely considered to be the country’s most prestigious wine competition. New Zealand Winegrowers, the national organisation for the country's 1,600 grape growers and winemakers, has owned and organised the competition for the past 40 years.  For more information visit www.airnzwineawards.co.nz

The following lists the gold medal winners and the trophies they are eligible for at the black tie dinner on 12 November:

Gold medals by varietal
Sparkling
3
Gewürztraminer
2
Pinot Gris
8
Riesling
6
Sauvignon Blanc
14
Chardonnay
13
Sweet White Wine
5
Rosé
5
Pinot Noir
17
Merlot, Cabernet and Blends
8
Syrah
6
Other Varieties - Single
4
Total
91

Gold medals by region
Gisborne
2
Hawke's Bay
26
Wellington / Wairarapa
1
Nelson
2
Marlborough
44
Canterbury
3
Otago
13
Total
91

Source: Communications - New Zealand Winegrowers

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