Gold Strike In New Zealand

Judges in this year's prestigious Air New Zealand Wine Awards competition were anything but reluctant to go gold.

A record 97 gold medals were awarded from among 1,550 sampled.

Chairman of judges Brent Marris said the Sauvignon Blanc class in particular was strong this year."

"Ripe crops and better fruit handling in the 2005 vintage contributed to the high number of gold medals; these are the absolute world benchmark for the style," he said.

CATEGORY FINALISTS

Esvin Champion Sauvignon Blanc Trophy

Astrolabe Wines Ltd Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Blind River Wines Ltd Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Cardmember Matua Innovator Ponder Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Cardmember Ponder Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Coopers Creek Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Gunn Estate Skippers Pool Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Jules Taylor Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Kim Crawford SP Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Spitfire 2005

Matua Valley Paretai Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Mt Olympus Tuatara Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Mudhouse Winery White Swan Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Saint Clair Estate Wines Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Saint Clair Estate Wines Pioneer Block 1 Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Saint Clair Estate Wines Pioneer Block 2 Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Tohu Wines Ltd Mugwi Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Waipara Hills Wine Estates Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Wairau River Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Whitehaven Whites Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2005

O-I New Zealand Champion Chardonnay Trophy

CJ Pask Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2004

Cape Campbell Reserve Limited Edition Chardonnay 2004

Esk Valley Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2004

Gunn Estate Skeetfield Chardonnay 2004

Highfield Estate (1991) Limited Marlborough Chardonnay 2002

Koblefield The Distinction Chardonnay 2004

Kim Crawford Tietjen Gisborne Chardonnay 2005

Landmark Estate Wines Ltd Chardonnay (Earls) 2004

Montana Terrior Stuart Block Gisborne Chardonnay (Patutahi) 2004

Montana Terroir Waihirere Gisborne Chardonnay (Ormond) 2004

Morton Estate White Label Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2002

Mudhouse Winery White Swan Chardonnay 2004

Northrow Chardonnay 2004

Saint Clair Estate Wines Omaka Reserve Chardonnay 2003

Summerhouse Chardonnay 2004

Vidal Wines Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2004

Villa Maria Estate Reserve Barrique Fermented Chardonnay 2004

Villa Maria Estate Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2004

Villa Maria Estate Single Vineyard Waldron Chardonnay 2004

Villa Maria Estate Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2003

W5 Chardonnay 2004

Wither Hills Chardonnay 2003

Nissan New Zealand Limited Champion Sparkling Wine Trophy

Hunters Wines Miru Miru 2002

Palliser Estate Methode Traditionelle 2001

Air Sea Global Champion Pinot Noir Trophy

Capricorn Wines Struggler's Flat Pinot Noir 2004

Fairhall Downs Estate Wines Pinot Noir 2004

Fairmont Estate Block One Pinot Noir 2004

Mount Riley Winemakers Selection Pinot Noir 2004

Northrow Pinot Noir 2003

Palliser Estate Pinot Noir 2004

Terrace Heights Estate THE Pinot Noir 2004

Vidal Wines Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2004

Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2004

Villa Maria Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2004

Villa Maria Estate Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir 2004

Waipara Springs Pinot Noir Reserve 2003

Label and Litho Champion Gewurztraminer Trophy

Allan Scott Wines & Estates Ltd Gewurztraminer 2005

Corbans Private Bin Hawke's Bay Gewurztraminer 2004

Hunters Wines Gewurztraminer 2005

Lawson's Dry Hills Gewurztraminer 2004

Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Gewurztraminer 2005

Dish magazine Champion Pinot Gris Trophy

Astrolabe Wines Ltd Pinot Gris 2005

Kathy Lynskey Wines Ltd Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2005

Lawson's Dry Hills Pinot Gris 2005

Triplebank Awatere Valley Pinot Gris 2005

Villa Maria Estate Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Gris 2005

AMPM Marketing Limited Champion Riesling Trophy

Cardmember Delta Marlborough Riesling 2005

Cardmember Hunter's Stoneburn Marlborough Riesling 2004

Cardmember Kahurangi Estate Heaphy Series Moutere Riesling 2004

Coopers Creek Vineyard Marlborough Riesling 2005

Forrest Estate Dry Riesling 2002

Grove Mill Marlborough Riesling 2004

Hunters Wines Riesling 2004

Soljans Wines Riesling 2005

Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Riesling 2004

Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Seddon Riesling 2002

BDO Spicers Champion Other White Varieties Trophy

Cardmember Cooper's Creek Limited Release Gisborne Viognier 2005

Coopers Creek Vineyard Gisborne Viognier 2005

Marlborough Bottling Company Champion Medium Sweet or Sweet Wine Trophy

Canterbury House Noble Riesling 2004

Villa Maria Estate Reserve Noble Riesling 2004

Hort Research Champion Rose or Blush Trophy

Esk Valley Estate Black Label Merlot/Malbec/Rose 2005

Huka Lodge Champion Merlot Trophy

Capricorn Wines One Tree Merlot 2004

Mills Reef Elspeth Merlot 2004

Villa Maria Estate Private Bin Merlot 2004

Villa Maria Estate Reserve Merlot 2002

Fruitfed Supplies Champion Merlot Predominant Blend Trophy

Capricorn Wines Red Rock Gravel Pit Red 2004

Esk Valley Estate Black Label Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec 2004

Karikari Estate Merlot Malbec Cabernet 2004

Mills Reef Reserve Merlot Malbec 2004

Matua Valley Ararimu Merlot/Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Mills Reef Reserve Merlot Cabernet Syrah 2001

Vidal Wines Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Vidal Wines Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Carter & Associates Champion Cabernet Sauvignon or Predominant Blend Trophy

Kingsley Estate Gimblett Road Reserve 2004

Mission Estate Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Newton Forrest Cornerstone Cabernet/Merlot/Malbec 2002

Business World Travel Champion Syrah Trophy

Bridge Pa Vineyard Hawke's Bay Syrah 2004

Capricorn Wines Red Rock The Underarm Syrah 2003

Unison Vineyard Ltd Syrah 2004

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