Nelson’s Tohu Wines has won a Best in Show award at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 – the only New Zealand winery to win such an award at this year’s event.

The winery was recognised for its Whenua Matua Chardonnay 2018, a single-vineyard wine grown in the Upper Moutere region.

More than 18,000 wines from 56 countries were judged in the awards, with only 50 wines receiving the Best in Show accolade.

Tohu also won a Gold Medal for its 2020 Tohu Sauvignon Blanc.

Tohu, the world’s first Māori-owned winery, has recently celebrated success at the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards with the Whenua Awa Chardonnay claiming Gold and winemaker Bruce Taylor being named Winemaker of the Show.

Tohu Wines was established in 1998 and produces around 200,000 cases of wine at its winery in the Awatere Valley. Tohu is owned by the Kono food and beverage company based in Te Tauihu at the top of the South Island and exports its products to over 40 countries.

Tohu winemaker Bruce Taylor says that like the other wines in the Whenua series, the Chardonnay is all about showcasing a single vineyard. “Whenua Matua translates as ‘significant lands’ and the changing angles and orientations of the vineyard blocks lend themselves to the complexities of winemaking.

“The wine is selected from the very best barrels of our hand-picked, whole bunch pressed 15-year-old Chardonnay vines. These single vineyard wines hold great structure, exceptional varietal characteristics, texture and complexity. We’re really happy to have this wine representing the best possible expression of Chardonnay.

Tohu Whenua Matua Chardonnay 2018 is RRP $34.99 and Tohu Awatere Sauvignon Blanc is RRP $17.95.

Distributor: Tohu Wines