Three new trophies up for the taking at the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect

Media Release: 1 September 2024

Entries are open for the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect; a key event on the Marlborough wine calendar celebrating excellence in wine.

Newly appointed Chief Judge Stu Marfell says the show is a wonderful opportunity for Marlborough wine producers to benchmark their wines against others in the region, which has become widely known as the region that put New Zealand on the world wine stage.

Three new trophies are up for the taking this year, with a champion wine being awarded for three subregions: the Wairau Valley, the Southern Valleys, and Awatere & South Marlborough. 

“The Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, is unique in the fact that it evaluates Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in sub-classes of Marlborough’s three main subregions,” Stu says.

"This year, we will announce a champion wine from each of the subregions, and they will be eligible for champion wine of the show. It will be great to recognise the amazing diversity of wine styles and terroir that we have here in Marlborough."  

The Champion Low Alcohol Wine trophy will also return this year.

“The lifestyle category that is low alcohol wines is growing in engagement from both consumers and producers, and we would like to celebrate the significant innovation that is happening in this area here in Marlborough,” Stu says.

In total, there will be 23 trophies up for contention this year, including the ever sought after the QuayConnect Champion Wine of the Show, The Legacy Award, The Coterie Wine of Provenance, and the Vit Management Ltd Best Organic Wine trophies.

Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc will continue to be judged as a class of its own, celebrating the diversity of Marlborough wines.

Entries are open now at www.marlboroughwineshow.com, and close on Wednesday, September 20. Judging is set to take place behind closed doors between October 18-20 at Marlborough Events Centre.

Trophies will then be awarded at a special industry event, The Marlborough Wine Celebration - Honouring 50 Years, on the evening of November 17.  

The evening will be a celebration of 50 years since the beginning of the modern Marlborough wine industry, and will bring together passionate grapegrowers, winemakers, industry suppliers, scientists, and pioneers.

One of those pioneers will receive the Marlborough Wine Lifetime Achievement Award at the event, while some trophy winners from the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, will also be put under the spotlight.

An amazing line-up of judges for the 2023 show is set to be announced in the coming weeks.

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Contact

Marcus Pickens
General Manager, Wine Marlborough Ltd
021 831 820

Editors Notes

●      The 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, is a regional wine competition run by Wine Marlborough Ltd.

●      The Marlborough Wine Show was created by Belinda Jackson and Margaret Creswell in 2011. It was purchased by Wine Marlborough Ltd in 2017.

●      The aim of the show is to:

○      Champion Marlborough wine excellence and wine provenance

○      Promote sub regionality and diversity of wines grown in New Zealand’s largest wine region.

○      Promote and foster wine show judging talent within the region

●      The competition rewards top-performing wines with trophies, gold, silver, and bronze medals scored using the 100-point system.

●      Wine Marlborough Ltd is the trading name of the Marlborough Winegrowers Association, representing wine companies and grape growers from Marlborough.