We had the pleasure of awarding two trophies to deserving Marlborough wineries at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show Celebration Long Lunch.

Congratulations to Giesen Wines; their Giesen Single Vineyard Clayvin Chardonnay 2018 took the trophies for both the MRC Champion Chardonnay 2019 & Older and Vit Management Ltd Best Organic Wine.

MRC CE Gerald Hope hands the MRC Champion Chardonnay Current Vintage trophy to a happy Jeremy Tod from Giesen Wines.

Receiving the MRC Champion Chardonnay Current Vintage was the Rapaura Springs Single Vineyard Bouldevines Vineyard Chardonnay 2020.

Michael Bann (left) and Matt Fox (right) from Rapaura Springs receive the MRC Champion Chardonnay Trophy from CE Gerald Hope (centre), Marlborough Research Centre.

More than 550 wines were entered into the 2022 show, with a Celebration Long Lunch attended by 230 people from all parts of the wine industry.

Nineteen trophies were awarded at the lunch, with each trophy designed and handmade by Marlborough artist Rebekah Hall, of The Kauri Tree Studio.

Chief Executive Gerald Hope says sponsoring the Chardonnay awards is an opportunity for the New Zealand Wine Centre to celebrate a great variety that is locally grown.

“We understand and appreciate what it takes to make award winning wine. Marlborough has proven itself vintage after vintage to be a quality grape grower and has mastered the art of winemaking by creating both traditional and modern styles of chardonnay. This year the respective winemakers expressed what can be produced in the vineyard matched by careful handling in the winery.

“Marlborough grown Chardonnay is a stellar grape and more than matches other great wines produced in Marlborough.”

Congratulations also to Marisco Vineyards ‘The King’s Wrath’ Pinot Noir 2021, crowned the Champion Wine of the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.