This last weekend the gala celebration for the 2017 Air New Zealand Wine Awards took place in Hawke’s Bay. Trophy-winning wines were announced during the dinner with Marlborough taking top honours for 12 of the 17 trophy categories, including the top two prizes. Marlborough’s success this year was especially welcome as the awards were announced almost exactly one year after the Kaikoura earthquake which impacted wineries throughout the region. Dashwood Pinot Noir 2016 Marlborough won the O-I New Zealand Reserve Wine of Show, and Isabel Chardonnay 2016 Marlborough took the top prize, Air New Zealand Champion Wine of Show. A total of 1,300 wines entered the competition this year.

Also at the event four new fellows were announced, recognised for their long-term commitment to the New Zealand wine industry: Babich’s founder and winemaker…

To continue reading this post with free access, continue to JancisRobinson.com. Her site has had on going coverage in relation to the California fires alongside her usual excellent look at wines and wine news from around the world. Here’s the link to the rest of the article: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/nz-winegrowers-donate-nz25000-to-california-fire-victims