New Zealand today has some 700 wineries according to Wines of NZ, a number backed up by the official New Zealand Wine association’s membership. By working together, the industry has achieved global recognition as a prominent wine country, and rightfully so with the quality of wines it produces year on year. Winemakers and growers have firmly stamped their mark on sauvignon blanc, which represented 85 per cent of the country’s wine exports in 2016. The country also makes exceptional pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot gris among others, but these lead the way.
The number of awards New Zealand continuously claims on the local and international stage proves this. Take the Sydney International Wine Competition as an example. At the 2017 competition, Villa Maria in Auckland was the Most Successful Winery, while Marlborough was the most successful wine region, winning 59 awards and dominating the pinot noir and sauvignon blanc categories. Plus, all 19 of the Top100 and Blue-Gold winners in the pinot noir class were from New Zealand. Find out more about the makers, their awards and newest releases.
Find out more about the makers, their awards and newest releases.
Senior Winemaker at ChurchRoad Wines, Chris Scott
Church Road Wines
Church Road is one of New Zealand’s oldest wineries. It played a central role in the creation of the Hawkes Bay wine region and grew to prominence under the leadership of visionary founder and Winemaker, Tom McDonald. With a passion for the great wines of France, McDonald began producing cabernet sauvignon in 1949 and produced one of the first commercial styles of chardonnay. Today, Church Road continues McDonald’s vision with a single-minded focus on chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Church Road has vineyards across the region so that it can harvest grapes with a diverse range of flavour profiles. Today, the winery is led by winemaker Chris Scott who worked his way up from Cellar Hand in 1998 to Senior Winemaker in 2005. Scott is now responsible for Church Road’s entire portfolio and was recently named 2016 New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by Winestate Magazine, the second time in four years. The same magazine also awarded the Church Road McDonald Series Syrah 2014, New Zealand Wine of the Year. Scott said, “We have a fantastic, tight-knit team in Hawkes Bay in both our vineyards and the winery, all of whom contribute greatly to the success of Church Road.”
Available from Pernod Ricard Australia
Vidal Estate
Anthony Joseph Vidal built Vidal Estate from the ground up in 1905. Today, Hugh Crichton continues to produce remarkable wines under the Vidal name as Chief Winemaker. While living in London, Hugh developed a love for European wines. After studying and working several vintages in France and Italy, he moved to New Zealand to advance his career. Hugh finds inspiration in old-world styles and focuses on innovation and sustainability. He also puts a lot of energy into chardonnay, which he believes is going through a renaissance as people look for more balance and complexity in their wines. Vidal Estate produces wines in three distinctive tiers: Vidal Legacy, the pinnacle of Vidal Estate, are boutique wines from the finest vineyards with classic regional expression; Vidal Reserve includes elegant and distinctive wines of exceptional quality; and the Estate range displays high-quality wines that are approachable and good value. Vidal Estate’s grapes are grown in vineyards across the region, including Gimblett Gravels, an ancient riverbed turned grape-growing nirvana. Gold medals were recently awarded at the 16th International Cool Climate Wine Show in Australia to the Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2014, Vidal Estate Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 and Vidal Legacy Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2013. “The 2013 and 2014 vintages were outstanding in Hawkes Bay,” Crichton said.
Available from Fine Wine Partners
Villa Maria
Villa Maria is New Zealand’s most awarded winery and has been for over 30 years. Continuing on its success, this year Villa Maria was not only named as one of the top 10 world’s most admired wine brands and No.1 in New Zealand by Drinks International, but also won a record 20 gold medals at the New Zealand International Wine Show. “To be awarded 20 gold medals is a testament to the quality and consistency we achieve relentlessly,” Villa Maria founder and CEO, Sir George Fistonich said. Fistonich established the winery in 1961 after emigrating from Croatia to Auckland with his wife Andrija. Today, Villa Maria employs the most talented viticulturists and winemakers to produce the best expressions in New Zealand. As Group Chief Winemaker, Nick Picone, who joined the company’s winemaking team as a teenager, is responsible for overseeing the production of all Villa Maria wines including coordinating harvest, formulating wine styles, and assembling blends to tie in with the company’s bottling program. The grapes used to produce said wines are sourced from both company-owned vineyards and contract growers in some of the best regions, from the cooler Awatere Valley to the inland Wairau Valley.
Available from Fine Wine Partners
Yealands Family Wines
Peter Yealands opened Yealands Family Wines in 2008 and was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award at The Drinks Business Green Awards 2016 for his continued innovation and commitment to sustainable practices. A landmark building, the Seaview winery was the first in the world to be carboNZero from inception, with all aspects of the winery designed to maximise sustainability and still to this day the winemakers have total control from vineyard to bottle. Yealands Family Wines quickly became synonymous with bespoke premium quality under the expert leadership of Chief Winemaker, Tamra Kelly-Washington. Within the first eight vintages, the talented team won more than 1000 awards, including the prestigious honour of its Yealands Estate Single Block S1 2011 Sauvignon Blanc being named Best Sauvignon Blanc in the World. Overall, it is Yealands’ aim to produce wines of great concentration and pure varietal expression in a way that doesn’t put any strain on the planet. With such absolute commitment to being the world’s most sustainable wine producer, the story of Yealands Family Wines is only just beginning.
Available from Chace Agencies in South Australia, Off the Vine Merchants in Western Australia, The Wine Company in Victoria and Queensland, Young & Rashleigh Wine Merchants in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, and NT Agencies in Northern Territory.
Ta_Ku
Ta_Ku is one of New Zealand’s younger wineries, having established its roots in 2009. In the short space of seven years, however, it has become the country’s fourth-largest independent brand by volume and the same goes for its sauvignon blanc. The winery sources grapes from both Marlborough and Central Otago and is one of the local producers that embraces evolution and innovation. Its newest release as an example takes its classic and popular sauvignon blanc and adds a splash of pinot noir (6 per cent to be precise). Ta_Ku Sauvignon Blank Pink is set to offer consumers something a little different this summer season with an attractive colour and notes of gooseberry, strawberry and tropical fruit. “We have tapped into the broad consumer appeal of New Zealand sauvignon blanc while also leveraging Ta_Ku’s strong brand credentials to offer something really unique,” Nika Malek, Marketing Director at Accolade Wines said. This was backed up by a survey conducted by the brand, which found 67 per cent of respondents would either definitely or probably buy the new wine. Ta_Ku means ‘My Kiwi wine’ and derives from the Maori word Te Reo or ‘My’. There is no question that this is a New Zealand made wine and every bottle proudly wears a distinctive design of a Kiwi bird. The Ta_Ku family also includes a pinot gris, pinot noir and the sauvignon blanc plus Sauvignon Blanc Pink.
Available from Accolade Wines
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