Aotearoa New Zealand Organic Wine Awards 2021 See our medal-winning wines!
See which of our wines took out medals at the 2021 Aotearoa New Zealand Organic Wine Awards.
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See which of our wines took out medals at the 2021 Aotearoa New Zealand Organic Wine Awards.
2021 marked the eighth year running for the Aotearoa New Zealand Organic Wine Awards, and we’re proud to present our medal-winning wines.
“Organic Wine growing allows for greater expression of terroir, vintage as well as characteristics not typically associated with a varietal,” says Luke Thomas, Awards Founder. “For the eighth consecutive year we have experienced growth in entry volumes at the Organic Wine Awards. For 2021 we issued 8 Champion, 41 Gold (excluding champions), 53 Silver and 56 Bronze. We believe organic viticulture creates the potential for a winemaker to craft a superior wine.”
Our 2015 vintage of this wine took out a silver medal in 2020, so it’s great to see this beauty moving up the ranks to earn a Gold medal in 2021!
Named after the vineyard site it comes from, Ridge Block WAS a Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vineyard… until 2009, when the Giesen brothers made a big call to kick-start their organics programme by ripping out the entire 8.5 hectare site.
The land was left fallow for a year, and after some expert site analysis, Pinot Noir and Syrah were selected as the best grapes to replant the newly organic vineyard.
Ridge Block’s close-planted, high density layout means that each vine only produces a single bottle of wine. In that respect it’s just like our legendary Clayvin vineyard, but with a beautifully distinct flavour profile despite their close geographical proximity.
This wine is an absolute favourite for many of our team, so we are proud to see it win a gold medal. Another of our ‘one bottle per vine’ vineyards, the Clayvin site has an excellent reputation among those in the know. It was one of the first significant hillside plantings in Marlborough and is organic and biodynamic. The care our viticulture team puts into the vines means our winemakers can really let the fruit shine through.
This is an intense and complex Chardonnay offering ripe peaches, honey and cashews with brioche nuance. It shares its terroir with both savoury and mineral flavour. On the palate it has a satiny texture which is complemented by a lively acid backbone, its finishing with lingering honey notes.
Syrah isn’t grown as commonly as many other varietals in New Zealand, and the majority of it is based in the North Island, so a Marlborough Syrah is a rare thing. But add the fact this comes from our certified organic Clayvin vineyard, and we think you’ve got something pretty special. The judges agreed, awarding this wine a Gold medal.
On the nose our Single Vineyard Clayvin Syrah has beautiful, bright, aromatic fruit aromas of blueberry and plum which meld with violet, cinnamon and nutmeg unlined with an aniseed influence. Its powerful palate is full of texture and concentration with a lingering savoury finish.
It’s no surprise to our team to see our Single Vineyard Clayvin Pinot Noir earning a silver medal – we’re a bit partial to it! This Single Vineyard Clayvin Pinot Noir is earthy, with wild strawberry and red cherry. It’s restrained with good intensity and a structured foundation, finishing with great length.
The 2015 vintage of this wine clinched a Gold medal at the 2020 NZ Organic Wine Awards.
This organic Chardonnay exudes vibrant citrus flavour, delivered with length and complexity. The fruit from our premium vineyard reflects our approach to organics; we prioritise vine health and minimal interference in order to craft the best quality wine. Clinching a silver medal, this wine has also earned 5 Star reviews from Winestate.
A multi award-winner, our limited edition Organic Syrah 2016 vintage has earned a medal for the second year running.
Our winemakers have described this particular wine as an intriguing, elegant Syrah with violet floral on the nose, followed by layers of dark blackberries and juniper offset by earthy, smokey character framed by a dash of oak and spice.
A Bronze award-winner this year, our limited edition Organic Pinot Noir 2016 scooped a stately silver medal at the 2020 NZ Organic Wine Awards.
This is a Pinot Noir with delicious intensity. Its smooth, silky texture delivers ripe cherry and wild berry flavours which finish long and elegant thanks to its perfect balance. Another example of letting our beautiful organic fruit shine through!
To create a Sauvignon Blanc with intense flavour and texture our winemakers separated the juice into three parcels and treated each one differently. One was fermented clean and bright to create intense aromatics, the second received a wild fermentation which adds texture and depth of flavour, and the final component was fermented in oak barrels to create a wine with rich mouth-feel. Talk about putting in the hard yards to get an amazing wine!
Our 2019 vintage of Organic Sauvignon Blanc picked up a Gold medal in addition to the 2020 vintage earning Bronze this year, and we’re happy to see all the hard work from our team recognised.
Our sister brand Ara Wines also took out Bronze medals for the Ara Resolute Sauvignon Blanc 2019 and Ara Resolute Pinot Noir 2017. Congratulations team!