Entries open for 2023 Marlborough Wine Show

Three new trophies are on offer for this year’s Marlborough Wine Show, with entries for the regional event open until 20 September.

The competition, sponsored by QuayConnect, has become a key event on the Marlborough wine calendar and celebrates regional excellence in wine. 

Newly appointed Chief Judge Stu Marfell says the show is a wonderful opportunity for Marlborough wine producers to benchmark their wines against others in the region.

Three new trophies are up for the taking this year, with a champion wine to be awarded for three subregions: the Wairau Valley, the Southern Valleys, and Awatere & South Marlborough.

Stu Marfell says the Marlborough Wine Show is unique in the fact that it evaluates Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in sub-classes of Marlborough’s three main subregions.

"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 that we have here in Marlborough,” says Marfell.

The Champion Low Alcohol Wine trophy will also return this year. “The lifestyle category that is low alcohol wines is growing in engagement from both consumers and producers, and we would like to celebrate the significant innovation that is happening in this area here in Marlborough,” says Marfell.

In total, there will be 23 trophies up for contention this year. Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc will continue to be judged as a class of its own, celebrating the diversity of Marlborough wines.

 Entries are open now at marlboroughwineshow.com and close on Wednesday, September 20. Judging is set to take place from October 18-20 at Marlborough Events Centre. The competition rewards top-performing wines with trophies, gold, silver, and bronze medals scored using the 100-point system.

The trophies, including the Marlborough Wine Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented at a special industry event, ‘The Marlborough Wine Celebration - Honouring 50 Years’, on November 17.

Organisers say that the evening will be a celebration of 50 years since the beginning of the modern Marlborough wine industry, and will bring together grapegrowers, winemakers, industry suppliers, scientists, and pioneers. 

Judges for the 2023 show will be announced in the coming weeks.