Friday, 13 November 2015 07:00

Six Nations Wine Challenge - Bob Campbell

Written by 

The judging is over although the detailed results have been embargoed until 9 October. You will find them on boutiquewines.com.au/6-nations-wine-challenge after that date.

Meanwhile I can report that New Zealand has had its most successful result since the competition began as the Tri-Nations Wine Challenge 13 years ago. New Zealand was voted top country by a larger margin than ever before. We also won the trophy for top wine of the show as well as winning "Nation of Class" in seven out of a total of 16 classes (see below).

The selection process works like this. A selector/judge from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, Argentina and the US each selects 100 of the best wines they can find from their country. We can enter up to 10 wines in any class.

In addition to trophies for Top Red, Top White and Wine of the Show a trophy is also awarded to the top wine in each class. Even more important in my view is the Nation of class awarded to the country earning the highest number of points in each class.

I am able to disclose the country winners but am not allowed to reveal the names of any of the winning wines.

I didn't enter any wines in the White Blends, Other White Varieties, Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon classes because I felt that we would be more likely to earn points in other classes. I could only find three wines to enter in the Other Red Varieties class. They came first and second and we earned Nation of Class (first and second wines are weighted to contribute more points).

I was disappointed that we didn't do better in Riesling and Chardonnay, two classes in which New Zealand has performed well in the past. Good to see South Africa show well this year. Their wines have steadily been getting better in recent years. I wonder whether the gradual adoption of screwcaps has given South Africa a helping hand?

It would also have been nice to win top wine in Pinot Noir and Syrah. New Zealand has won the Syrah class eight times in the past 13 years.

winners

More like this

Fine Wine a Hot Investment

OPINION: Drinks Business magazine has reported that, after taking a bit of a hit when the pandemic first struck, fine wine rebounded in the second half of 2020 and continues to grow, hitting an all-time high in 2021.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Editorial

Welcome to 2024!

Welcome to 2024!

OPINION: The New Year is now well underway and appears to have started promisingly on the weather front, with lots…

Agritech's relentless growth

Agritech's relentless growth

OPINION: Witnessing the relentless growth of agritech in New Zealand vineyards and wineries is somewhat "bittersweet" for Tahryn Mason, who…

Popular Reads

Ten years of Méthode Marlborough

New Zealand wine enthusiasts have a deepening understanding and growing appreciation of sparkling wine, says Mel Skinner, Chair of Méthode Marlborough…