A wine made only once every few years was this year crowned the Barrel Finance & Logistics Champion Sweet Wine at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Wairau River Reserve Botrytised Riesling 2022 picked up the trophy, after a warm, humid growing season resulted in optimal fruit to make the wine.

Winemaker Mary Schneier says to win the trophy with a wine they only have limited opportunities to produce was exciting for the team.

She shared a little about the wine, including what you might like to pair it with this summer…

One of Marlborough’s pioneering winemaking companies has picked up the trophy for the region’s flagship wine at the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2023 was presented the WineWorks Champion Current Vintage Sauvignon Blanc trophy at the celebration evening, which was also a celebration of 50 years of modern winemaking in Marlborough.

Chief winemaker Nick Entwistle says the wine is made using grapes from their ‘Home Block’, the first vineyard block established by the Rose Family in 1978.

To receive the award in this milestone year was special for the team. He shared with us a little about what sets the wine apart…

Fifty years on from breaking ground with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Triplebank has been awarded the QuayConnect Champion Awatere & South Marlborough trophy with their Triplebank Sauvignon Blanc 2023.

The award was presented at the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, which was also a celebration of 50 years of modern winemaking in Marlborough. Then Montana, the company was among the first producers to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the region in the 70s.

This year was the first year the show recognised champion wines from Marlborough’s subregions. Winemaker Lan Zhang told us what makes the Triplebank Sauvignon Blanc worthy of the 2023 title for Awatere & South Marlborough…

The 2017 vintage of Deutz Prestige Cuvée has left a lasting impression on judges of the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Careful work to ensure winemakers were able to make the best of a ‘vintage of two halves’ paid off, resulting in the wine being awarded the Vitis and Winemakers Champion Sparkling trophy at the Show in both 2022 and 2023.

Winemaker Laura-Kate Morgan told us about some of the crucial decisions that set this wine up for success…

Lawson’s Dry Hills has had their focus on Pinot Noir recognised, winning the De Sangosse NZ Champion Pinot Noir 2020 & Older trophy at the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Senior Winemaker Marcus Wright says the team has been working hard to improve their Pinot Noir in recent years, and to receive the trophy for The Pioneer Tilly’s Single Vineyard 2020 was particularly rewarding, as it was the first vintage under the new regime.

He shares a little about the wine and what makes it special…

Isabel Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021 has been named the Champion Wine of the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

The wine was a standout for judges, picking up four trophies in total, including the De Sangosse NZ Champion Current Vintage Pinot Noir, The Coterie Wine of Provenance and Wine Marlborough Ltd Champion Wairau Valley wine.

Chief Judge Stu Marfell said the Champion wine was a clear standout for judges.

Entries are open for the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect; a key event on the Marlborough wine calendar celebrating excellence in wine.

Newly-appointed Chief Judge Stu Marfell says the show is a wonderful opportunity for Marlborough wine producers to benchmark their wines against others in the region, which has become widely known as the region that put New Zealand on the world wine stage. 

Three new trophies are up for the taking this year, with a champion wine being awarded for three subregions: the Wairau Valley, the Southern Valleys and Awatere & South Marlborough.

Marlborough’s Lower Wairau Valley captured the tastes of judges when it came to Riesling at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Lake Chalice’s The Falcon Riesling 2021 was the pick of the bunch, winning the De Sangosse Champion Riesling trophy at the show.

A wine made only in the best of years has been named the Barrel Finance and Logistics Champion Sweet Wine at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Tohu Wines picked up the trophy as one of a trifecta at the awards for the company this year, with their Tohu Raiha Reserve Noble Riesling 2016.

The WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc, previous vintage, at the 2022 QuayConnect Marlborough Wine Show has been over three decades in the making.

Vavasour Wines picked up the trophy with their Vavasour Papa Sauvignon Blanc 2021, made from the very first Sauvignon Blanc vines planted in the Awatere Valley more than 30 years ago.

A concentrated effort from the entire Marisco team can be credited for their title of Classic Oak Products Champion Pinot Noir, current vintage at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

The same wine,‘The King’s Wrath’ Pinot Noir 2021, also saw the company pick up the trophy for Champion Wine of the Show.

When Giesen Director of Winemaking Duncan Shouler and his team bottled their Single Vineyard Clayvin Syrah 2021, they knew it was something special.

The wine was recently crowned Wine Marlborough Champion Other Red Wine at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

A marriage of top quality fruit and traditional winemaking techniques was the secret behind the winning sparkling wine at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Pernod Ricard picked up the Vitis & Winemakers Champion Sparkling Wine trophy with their Deutz Prestige Cuvée 2017.

Sauvignon Blanc was a stand out for Vavasour Wines at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, who took home two Sauvignon Blanc category trophies.

Their Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc 2022 shone in the WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc, Current Vintage category, despite a tricky growing season.

A commitment to respect in the vineyard is paying off for viticulture and winemaking teams at Giesen Wines.

The company picked up three trophies for two wines made in the organic Clayvin Vineyard at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

A traditional and hands-off approach in the winery paid off for Tohu winemakers, who came away from the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, with not one but two trophies for their Whenua Awa Pinot Noir 2019.

Tohu Wines Chief Winemaker Bruce Taylor says the wine is a favourite for the team in the winery; the 2019 vintage a standout amongst vertical tastings even now.

Minimal intervention was at the forefront when Rapaura Springs Winemaker Mike Bann set about to make the trophy-winning Single Vineyard Bouldevines Vineyard Chardonnay 2020.

The wine was awarded the MRC Champion Chardonnay, Current Vintage, at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Extra love in the vineyard and unconventional winemaking methods are behind the Wine Marlborough Champion Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc of the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

The Wine Marlborough Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc trophy was awarded to Te Pā Oke Sauvignon Blanc 2020, beating out 10 other entries in the emerging category.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Pinot Blanc 2019 has shown huge promise in its second vintage, picking up the Move Freight Champion Other White Wine Trophy at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show.

Saint Clair Family Estate Winemaker Heather Stewart says receiving the award was extra special for the company, given that it is a recent addition to their offerings.

Whitehaven’s Kōparepare Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2022 has been crowned Scenic Hotel Marlborough Champion Rosé at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Kōparepare Brand Ambassador Samantha White says it was the third year in a row that the wine had taken out a gold medal at the Show. To get the trophy was an added bonus.