Entries are open for the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, a key event on the Marlborough wine calendar celebrating excellence in wine, sponsored by QuayConnect. 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.
Newly appointed Chief Judge, Stu Marfell, said 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.
“The Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, is unique because it evaluates Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in sub-classes of Marlborough’s three main subregions,” said Marfell.
"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 we have here in Marlborough.”
The Champion Low Alcohol Wine trophy will also return in 2023, which has been a popular lifestyle category among consumers and producers.
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, and will celebrate the diversity of Marlborough wines.
Entries for the 2023 competition have opened at www.marlboroughwineshow.com, and close on Wednesday, September 20. Judging will occur behind closed doors in mid-October at Marlborough Events Centre.
Trophies will then be awarded at a special industry event, The Marlborough Wine Celebration, 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 grape growers, 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 will also be put under the spotlight.
The line-up of judges for the 2023 show is set to be announced in the coming weeks.
