RSM congratulates Audit client Villa Maria on being the dominant winery at the Air New Zealand Awards, where a new favourite style that could add to the industry’s export success was touted - Rosé wines comprised 100 of the 1400 entries, overtaking both the Syrah and Reisling categories.

Chief judge Michael Brajkovich says an even more stunning outcome is that rosés collected five gold medals out of the 91 awarded. He says rosés have the characteristics of both red and white wines, giving wide appeal.

“They capture the imagination of people who don’t drink red wine and maybe want a bit more flavour to go with the food they’re having,” he says. “Another part of their appeal is the look in a clear glass bottle. It brightens the mood and it’s no surprise that in France rosé now outsells white wine.”

The largest number of gold medals among the whites were the 14 awarded in the export-leading Sauvignon Blanc variety, which Mr Brajkovich describes as having undergone a major change in the past five years.  “They have become much better balanced and drier,” he says.  All come from Marlborough with the sole exception of a Central Otago entry from Peregrine Wines.

Chardonnays back in favour

Chardonnays have also been changing as this variety comes back into consumer favour.

"Oak has become less intrusive this year, the wines are more balanced and the pendulum has swung back from the heavier styles," Mr Brajkovich says.

The 13 gold medals winners come from five growing areas, including the smaller Nelson, Gisborne and Central Otago regions as well as Marlborough and Hawke's Bay.

The other strong white varieties, Pinot Gris and Riesling, continued to strengthen their presence and quality with eight and six golds respectively.

Mr Brajvoch says the Pinot Gris entries are less bland and not as sweet while the Rieslings are drier.

Pinot Noir tops gold tally

Among the reds, the other big export earner, Pinot Noir, collected 17 golds, with Marlborough edging out Central Otago by 10 medals to six with one from Hawke’s Bay.

But Hawke’s Bay was dominant among the other reds, collecting all eight gold medals in Merlot, Cabernet and blends category, the six Syrahs and two other varieties, Mazemino and Cabernet Franc.

Villa Maria was the dominant winery, with 11 golds for its main brand, three for Thornbury and two each for Esk Valley and Te Awa.

The elite trophy-winning wines and other champions will be named at the awards dinners in Auckland on November 12.

Rabobank reported this week that the New Zealand harvest in 2016 was a near-record of 436,000 tonnes, just 2% shy of 2014. Export volumes were up 3.7% in the seven months to July and up 6.4% by value compared with the previous year. However, "average values are starting to dip from recent highs as wine companies set about marketing the higher volumes in stock," Rabobank says.