Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2010 A Villa Maria Fest

Of the gold medals, 19 were awarded to Sauvignon Blanc, all from the 2009 vintage, from Marlborough bar one. There were 15 gold medal Chardonnays and 16 gold medal Pinot Noirs, of which 10 came from Central Otago. There were 10 golds awarded to Riesling, and it was pleasing to see 10 golds awarded to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and blends of, all from the successful 2008 and 2007 vintages in Hawke’s Bay. The up-and-coming Syrah variety was awarded 8 gold medal, all bar one from Hawke’s Bay fruit.

It was a fest for the Villa Maria group, who scooped 16 of the golds, twice as much as the next successful exhibitors, Saint Clair garnering 8 golds and the Pernod-Ricard group which won 7 gold medal awards. Villa Maria has been consistently the most successful wine judging exhibitor for around two decades, and this is an enormous endorsement of the quality of the wines. Villa Maria’s winning wines are not only the special ‘Single Vineyard’ and ‘Reserve’ designations, but also from the affordable ‘Cellar Selection’ and value ‘Private Bin’ ranges, which is a remarkable feat.

Regional Wines is conducting an instore tasting of a selection of gold medal winners from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday 10 April. Click here for details. The same day, from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm, a masterclass of the trophy winners will be conducted with commentary from some of the judging personnel who were involved in the show. Bookings are advised for the masterclass. Click here for details.  The full results can be seen on www.wineshow.co.nz

Here are the Gold Medal winning wines:

Chardonnay
Ararimu Chardonnay 2007 $$$
Church Road Reserve Chardonnay 2008 $$$
Clearview Reserve Chardonnay 2008 $$$
Corbans Private Bin Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2007 $$
Grove Mill Chardonnay 2008 $$
Mystery Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2008 $$$
Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay 2007 $$$
Saint Clair Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 $$
Squawking Magpie Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2007 $$$
Te Kairanga Casarina Reserve Chardonnay 2007 $$$
Twin Islands Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 $$
Villa Maria Private Bin East Coast Chardonnay 2009 $$
Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Gisborne Chardonnay 2008 $$$
Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008 $$$
West Brook Waimauku Estate Chardonnay 2008 $$$

Gewurztraminer
Charles Wiffen Wines Gewurztraminer 2009 $$
Johanneshof Cellars Gewurztraminer 2009 $$
Omihi Road Waipara Gewurztraminer 2008 $$$
Villa Maria Private Bin Gewurztraminer 2009 $$

Sauvignon Blanc
Babich Family Estate Individual Vineyards Cowslip Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 2009 $$$
Cable Station Road Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Clifford Bay Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Discovery Point Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Domain Road Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Kim Crawford Limited Release Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$$
Marisco Vineyards The King's Favour Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Saint Clair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 19 Bird Block Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 6 Oh! Block Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$$
Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Two Tracks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Villa Maria Reserve Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$$
Waipara Hills Soul of the South Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$
Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $$

Riesling
Camshorn Classic Riesling 2009 $$$
Grove Mill Riesling 2009 $$$
Lawson's Dry Hills Riesling 2007 $$
Mt Difficulty Target Gully Riesling 2009 $$
Palliser Estate Riesling 2008 $$
Toi Toi Marlborough Riesling 2009 $$
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Riesling 2009 $$
Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling 2009 $$
Waimea Nelson Dry Riesling 2006 $$
Waipara Springs Riesling 2008 $$

Pinot Gris
Artisan The Far Paddock Pinot Gris 2009 $$
Gibbston Valley Pinot Gris 2009 $$$
Greystone Waipara Pinot Gris 2009 $$$
Hawkshead Pinot Gris 2009 $$$
Lake Chalice Marlborough Eyrie Vineyard Pinot Gris 2009 $$
Terrace Edge Pinot Gris 2009 $$
Two Tracks Marlborough Pinot Gris 2009 $$
Wild South Pinot Gris 2009 $$

Viognier
Moana Park Vineyard Selection Viognier 2009 $$
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Viognier 2009 $$

Other White Varieties
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Verdelho 2008 $$$

Medium Sweet White
Forrest The Doctors Riesling 2009 $$

Sweet White
Coopers Creek Marlborough Late Harvest Riesling 2009 $$

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Predominant
Church Road Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $$$
Mills Reef Elspeth Trust Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 $$$
Selaks Winemaker's Favourite Merlot Cabernet 2008 $$
Te Awa Cabernet Merlot 2007 $$$
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett 2007 $$$
Vidal Hawkes Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $$
Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008 $$$

Merlot
Church Road Cuve Merlot 2007 $$$
Te Awa Left Field Merlot 2007 $$$
Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2007 $$$

Syrah
Corazon Single Vineyard Syrah 2008 $$
Elephant Hill Hawkes Bay Syrah 2009 $$$
Esk Valley Winemakers Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2007 $$$
Moana Park Vineyard Tribute Syrah 2008 $$$
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Bay Block Syrah 2007 $$$
Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2007 $$$
Vidal Wines Reserve Syrah Hawkes Bay 2006 $$$
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah 2008 $$$

Pinot Noir
Alexia Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2008 $$
Davishon Pinot Noir 2007 $$$
Desert Heart Mackenzies Run Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Hunter's Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Lake Hayes Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Maori Point Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Martinus Estate Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Matahiwi Holly Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Mondillo Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Pasquale Pinot Noir - Waitaki Valley 2008 $$$
The Aurora Bendigo Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Vavasour Awatere Valley Pinot Noir 2008 $$$
Waitiri Creek Pinot Noir 2007 $$$
Wooing Tree Beetle Juice Pinot Noir 2008 $$

Other Red Varietals
KEW Reserve Malbec 2009 $$$

Unspecified or Blended Reds
Stonyridge, Pilgrim Syrah Mourvedre, Grenache 2008 $$$

Rosé
Villa Maria Estate Private Bin Rose 2009 $$
Wooing Tree Blondie 2009 $$

Sparkling
Deutz Marlborough Cuvee Blanc de Blancs 2006 $$$
Hunter's MiruMiru Non Vintage NV $$$
Montana Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir Rose NV $$