Top Sparkling Wine Captures Finesse of Marlborough

A marriage of top quality fruit and traditional winemaking techniques was the secret behind the winning sparkling wine at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Pernod Ricard picked up the Vitis & Winemakers Champion Sparkling Wine trophy with their Deutz Prestige Cuvée 2017.

Winemaker Laura-Kate Morgan says the wine was made using fruit from a selection of their best vineyard blocks and base wines, showcasing and capturing the finesse of Marlborough.

“Prestige marries the best of our fruit resource with traditional winemaking techniques,” she says.

“Each parcel of fruit was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed. All parcels were fermented separately, either in French oak cuvées or stainless steel, and left on ferment lees whilst undergoing full malolactic fermentation.”

“Assemblage of the final blend, which is 64% Chardonnay and 36% Pinot Noir, was followed by a minimum of three years in the bottle on yeast lees, further enhancing and integrating flavours.”

Harvesting fruit for the 2017 vintage was made slightly tricky by a ‘season of two halves’, but early decision making paid off for the blend.

“Spring kicked the season off with good growing conditions and healthy vines, then we experienced a cooler and wetter growing season from January onwards,” Laura-Kate says.

“It was the year we had to make early decisions and luckily we managed to get our sparkling harvest during settled weather from the beginning of March. The cooler growing season played into our favour for our sparkling wines, we kicked vintage off on the 6th of March; the prompt and early decision allowed for retention of bright acidity and freshness … acidity is the backbone for our sparkling wines and exactly what we desire for our vintage Cuvées to ensure freshness and cleansing minerality.”

The team was proud of the bottled result, and even more so to pick up the Champion Sparkling Wine trophy at this year’s Show.

“The calibre of sparkling wines being produced in Marlborough is growing from strength to strength. We get to work with two hero varieties of Marlborough, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir creating a balance between bright acidity, fruit purity and complex richness,” Laura-Kate says.

“To win amongst such great company, we are honoured and very grateful to be awarded a trophy. The win is a testament to the efforts of the whole team, from vineyard, to the winery and through into the bottling line.”

Trophy Sponsor, Vitis & Winemakers Managing Director Paul Baggio sent well wishes to Pernod Ricard, congratulating them on their win.

“Proudly celebrating 30 years supplying quality winemaking equipment to the NZ wine industry, Vitis & Winemakers is thrilled to again support the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show which recognises some of the world’s best producers,” he says.

“We would like to congratulate all entries for an outstanding show, but especially to Pernod Ricard with their incredible 2017 Deutz Prestige Cuvée taking top honours. Well done to all involved!”