New Zealand has taken the top award and was the winning country at the
eighth annual ‘invitation only’ wine challenge between Australia, South
Africa and New Zealand. The Craggy Range ‘Te
Muna Road’ Pinot Noir 2008 was awarded the
Four Seasons Hotel Wine of the Show as well as Red Wine of the Show. Australia took second place and the
McWilliams ‘Mt Pleasant’ Lovedale Semillon 2005 took White Wine of the Show.
This
annual fixture has become a source of fascination among wine lovers from the
three competing countries, and the results are noticed world-wide. Wines are invited to be judged by a panel of
three authoritative judges, one from each country, these being Huon Hooke of Australia, Michael Fridjhon of South Africa
and Bob Campbell MW of New Zealand. The
earliest competitions saw Australia
take away most of the top awards, but the wines of South
Africa and New Zealand have become more
successful of late. For 2010, 360 wines
were judged across 13 classes; 135 were awarded either trophies, Double Gold or
Gold medals. This year, New Zealand took six trophies, Australia five and South Africa two. The full results can be seen at
www.trinationswine.com Here are the trophy
winners:
Sparkling
Wine Trophy
Brown
Brothers ‘Patricia’ Whitlands Pinot Noir/Chardonnay Brut 2005 - Aus
Chardonnay
Trophy
Vasse
Felix ‘Heytesbury’ Chardonnay 2008 – Aus
Aromatic
Trophy
Mt
Difficulty ‘Target Gully’ Riesling 2009 – NZ
Sauvignon
Blanc Trophy
Saint
Clair ‘Pioneer Block 2 – Swamp Block’ Sauvignon Blanc 2009 – NZ
Other
White Varieties and White Blends Trophy
Mount
Pleasant ‘Lovedale’ Semillon 2005 - Aus
Pinot
Noir Trophy
Craggy
Range ‘Te Muna Road’
Pinot Noir 2008 – NZ
Merlot
Trophy
Capital
Wines ‘The Backbencher’ Merlot 2008 – Aus
Shiraz Trophy
Vidal
Reserve Syrah 2007 – NZ
Cabernet
Sauvignon Trophy
Balnaves
‘The Tally’ Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 – Aus
Bordeaux Blends Trophy
Villa
Maria Reserve Cabernet/Merlot 2007 – NZ
Red Blends
non Bordeaux Trophy
Laapzicht
Estate ‘Steytler Vision’ Cabernet Sauvignon/Pinotage/Merlot 2006 - SA
Other Red
Varieties Trophy
Black
Barn Tempranillo 2009 - NZ
Dessert
Wine Trophy
Nederberg
Private Bin ‘Edelkeur’ Chenin Blanc 2005 - SA