The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) has highlighted Saint Clair Family Estate with high premium wine scores.
Saint Clair Family Estate proudly announced its outstanding results from the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), securing high scores across several premium wines.
The IWSC is widely recognised as one of the most respected global wine and spirits communities. Renowned for its rigorous judging process, the competition brings together panels of experienced judges who evaluate each entry through blind tasting. The structure of the sessions allows for collaborative discussion, ensuring each wine receives the recognition it deserves from industry professionals.
With 94 points, the Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Chardonnay was praised for its rich and complex nature with savoury notes of spice and toasty oak. This Chardonnay was crafted from fruit that was lightly whole-bunch pressed and fermented in American oak barrels, 16 percent of which were new. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and was aged for nine months on yeast lees with regular stirring. Only the finest barrels were selected to make up this exceptional reserve wine.
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 15 Strip Block Pinot Noir was described as elegant and expressive and was awarded 93 points. This Pinot Noir displays bright red cherry and ripe berry fruit flavours, supported by a rich mouthfeel and silky tannins, finishing with a hint of charry oak. The fruit was harvested at full physiological ripeness, cold-soaked for five days, and fermented using carefully selected yeast strains. The wine was matured for ten months in a combination of new (25 percent) and seasoned French oak barriques, undergoing malolactic fermentation before final blending and bottling.
The vineyard’s Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024, scoring 91 points, reflected a pure and vibrant expression of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and delivered intense notes of passionfruit and crushed herbs. The palate is generous and rich with a salty mineral edge that leads to a long, weighty finish. Juice was pressed immediately after harvest to minimise skin contact and fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel to retain freshness and varietal character. This parcel was identified by the winemaking team as the standout batch of the 2024 vintage.
These scores are a proud moment for the team at Saint Clair Family Estate and a reflection of its ongoing efforts to craft quality wines.
“It’s an honour to see their work recognised on the international stage alongside so many other talented producers.”
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