Record entries for Liquorland Top 100 wine comp

Record entries for Liquorland Top 100 wine competition

Over 1,600 wines from around the globe have been entered in Liquorland’s Top 100 wine competition – the largest annual wine competition in New Zealand.

“It’s a fantastic response. With this year being our 10th anniversary, it’s very pleasing to see an increase of almost 10% on last year’s entries”, says Liquorland’s general manager, Brett Wilson.

“The level of entries by category is related to increasing public awareness of various wine styles”.

This year, there has been a major increase in Merlot entries, with 130 wines being judged out of close to 360 entries of Bordeaux blends (Cabernet & Merlot). The difficult vintage in Hawkes Bay and Marlborough has seen Sauvignon Blanc entries drop to around 130. However, Pinor Noir entries continue to increase with 130 entries this year, an indication of its growing importance to the New Zealand wine economy. Chardonnay still remains the largest single class, with over 300 entries.

The Liquorland Top 100 is the only recognised local wine competition that compares New Zealand wines with imported wines in all styles and in all price categories.

“With an incredible array of wines available, the Liquorland Top 100 competition provides a valuable guide and third party recommendation for wines that are available in commercial quantities”, said Mr Wilson.

Entries are now closed and judges will taste the wines over three days starting next week on Tuesday the 2nd of September through until Thursday the 4th of September.

The 10% increase in entries this year will make a challenging job for chief judge Bob Campbell – Master of Wine, and Huon Hooke, leading Australian wine writer and international wine judge.

The results will be released at the Liquorland Top 100 awards evening on Friday the 3rd of October.

Over the past 10 years, notable wines in the Liquorland Top 100 have included, Delegats PR, Penfolds Grange, Chateau d’Yquem and Pol Roger. New Zealand labels such as Villa Maria, Vidals, Corbans, Matua Valley, Saints, Stoneleigh, and Drylands have also been well recognised.

The competition has been instrumental in promoting quality, value wines such as Banrock Station, Wyndham Estate, Jacobs Creek and McGuigan.

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