Reds and rosés get chance to compete

The competition is open to all wines made in an aromatic style. For the 2015 event the decision was made to accept red and rosé wines to better reflect consumer demand, says chairman of judges Terry Copeland

“By extending the competition classes, we’re able to recognise that more and more consumers want aromatic styles and this has extended itself into the red and rosé spectrum. Winemakers are now making styles that are less encumbered with oak and are more concentrated on expressions of fruit character.

“It will be great to see how these reds in particular come through the competition and to see how the wine industry is responding to the challenges of meeting consumer demand.”

Entries are open for the competition, which is now in its thirteenth year. The competition annually attracts around 400 entries across a variety of classes.

Marlborough vineyard Lawson’s Dry Hills took out the top spot in 2014, winning the Supreme Champion Wine in Show award with their 2013 Gewürztraminer.

Copeland and a panel of internationally experienced judges will evaluate the competing wines on 26 and 27 September in Christchurch. The panel includes Jack Glover (Accolade Wines), Kate Radburnd (CJ Pask Wines), Jim Harre (Senior Wine Judge and Consultant), Petter Evans (Sherwood Estate), Sarah Burton (Brennan Wines) and Jane Boyle (Wine Consultant and judging panellist Cuisine Magazine).

Winning wines will be announced in early October and will be on display at the 2015 Canterbury A&P Show in the Food and Wine NZ Pavilion from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 November.

Also returning in 2015 is the New Zealand Young Winemaker of the Year Competition. The Competition ran for the first time in 2014 and Patrick Newtown from Mudbrick Winery on Waiheke Island took out the top spot. The Young Winemaker of the Year will be announced during a function at the Canterbury A&P Show.

Entries for both competitions close on 23 September 2015. To find out more about the competition go to www.aromaticwine.co.nz.