To get some sense of scale, 20 pallets of wines, glasses and equipment were required by the team of 70, including 26 judges, as they sniffed, swirled, sipped and spat their way through the nearly 1300 entries.
In a further idea of scale, chief judge Jen Parr commented that the stewards would pour 10,000 glasses for the various panels of judges over the course of the show, in order to finally determine the Top 50 Wines under $25.
Thirty-five of this year’s Top 50 are from New Zealand, covering the length and breadth of the country, but it was perhaps fitting the gongs for top white and red were awarded to Hawke’s Bay wines, with Church Road Winery sewing up the titles with their chardonnay and syrah respectively.
Unique in its focus on wines selling for under $25, the NWWA Top 50 medal is a badge of confidence for consumers seeking quality wines at affordable price at the 140 New World branches across the country.
Writers are offered a sneak peek at a trio of wines. With the rose trophy going to Central producer Te Kano, I elected to taste roses this year.
30th celebrations for Maude and Carrick Wines
I’m mindful of the pioneering work of couples Dawn and Terry Wilson and Steve Green and Barbara Robertson-Green when in 1994 they planted the first vines on their respective vineyards in Central Otago.
Terry and Dawn chose the Maungawera Valley near Wanaka to found Mt Maude, which went on to become Maude upon the return of their daughter Sarah-Kate and her husband Dan Dineen from the Hunter Valley in NSW in 2006. Steve and Barbara planted the bare slopes of their Cairnmuir Rd vineyard in Bannockburn which later became Carrick, now in the ownership of Alison and Tony Cleland.
The Central wine industry was in its infancy; there were very few vineyards, let alone wineries and the vineyard landscape we take for granted today was almost unimaginable. These four visionary individuals have created a legacy which continues to give us both pride and pleasure today. Celebrations afoot for both wineries!
2023 Te Kano Life Central Otago Rose
Rating Excellent
Perfumed, fruit
sherbet, nectarine,
moving to savoury
nuances, very
attractive. Quince
joins nectarine on the
palate, nice viscosity
in the mouth, a little
grainy touch adding
detail to the texture.
Fruit sweet, but
closing relatively dry,
developing lovely
tanginess on the long
close. Hits the spot
very nicely and on
the button to enjoy
now.
www.tekanoestate.com
2023 Caythorpe Family Estate Marlborough Rose
Rating Very good to excellent
The nose is about
subtlety, strawberries
dusted with icing
sugar. Things ramp
up in the mouth where
there’s textural
richness and
mouthfeel matched by
flavour depth. Initially
ripe without being
over-sweet, a tangy
aspect keeping things
fresh, nicely balanced
with an engaging
finish. Some candied
sweetness develops
with air. Very easy to
enjoy, excellent vfm.
www.caythorpe.nz
2023 Ara Single Estate Marlborough Rose
Rating Very good to excellent
There’s a savoury/
umami element to
this, spices, hints of
apricot and stone
fruit. Nicely rounded
in the mouth,
refreshing crispness
too with some zesty
piquancy showcasing
the bright, dry finish.
Perhaps a touch of
baking spices too?
Trying to pull out
individual characters
is redundant as it
simply works well as
a whole. Vegan
friendly too.
www.arawines.co.nz
