The New Zealand International Wine Show celebrated it’s 21st birthday with 22 Trophies and a record number of Gold and Double Gold medals awarded.
A total of 1530 wines were judged over three days, with a team that has been together for most of the 21 years – the only new addition being industry legend Kate Radburnd, who stepped into an Assistant Chief Judge role.
The other Assistant Chief Judges were Larry McKenna, John Hancock and also Michael Ivicevich who moved into the role for the first time.
Champion Wine of the Show was awarded to Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Cuvée Réservée Champagne NV; and Champion Wine Company of the Year was Mudbrick Vineyard, with six trophies and seven Gold/Double Gold medals, as well as Winemaker of the Show.
Entries in popular classes such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir were in line with previous years but there were lower entry numbers in Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah.
Several classes increased in numbers, notably Champagne or Méthode Traditionelle, European reds or “other whites” – which included Albarino and Chenin Blancs.
The sparkling classes usually have around 90 entries, this year there were 120. The class produced Gold medals for 19 Champagnes and nine local sparklings were awarded Gold or Double Gold medals.
Rosé is now an important category with seven Double Golds and 12 Gold medals awarded – all New Zealand and all from the 2025 vintage.
Chardonnay once again lead the way with five double gold and 31 gold medals. There was a big surprise in the origin of the top Chardonnays – Marlborough produced 20 and Hawke’s Bay just seven.
In the Sauvignon Blancs, all of the 25 Gold medals but one wine came from the 2025 vintage.
There were plenty of favourable comments from the judge involved with the Pinot Noir Class with 16 Golds for Central Otago, 11 for Marlborough and six for Martinborough.
To be awarded a Double Gold medal, the top wines in the initial judging were all re-evaluated by the original panel, plus all of the Chief Judges and if every one of the judging team rated it a Gold medal – it’s unanimous and a Double Gold medal was awarded.
Under the system in place at the New Zealand International Wine Show, a wine does not necessarily have to have been awarded a Double Gold medal to become a Trophy winner.
For the full list of 2025 trophy and medal award winners, click here.
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Dining and Cooking