The New World Wine Awards Top 50 list has been announced, with the wines now available in liquor-selling New World stores nationwide for $25 or less.  

Judging took place in Blenheim over three full days, prior to the recent lockdown, to find the best wines among more than 1,100 entries from around New Zealand and the world.  

New Zealand-made wines took 42 of the Top 50 placings.

 Co-Chair of Judges, Sam Kim, says they were presented with an incredibly strong field again this year, thanks in part to three outstanding winegrowing seasons in New Zealand. “The vintages of 2019, 2020 and 2021 will be remembered as ‘The Triple Crown’ for many of our local wine regions and especially for our most famed wine, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.”  

Marlborough delivered 19 of the Top 50 wines, including Yealands taking the Champion Sauvignon Blanc title, te Pā the Champion Chardonnay, and Rapaura Springs the Champion Pinot Gris.   

Hawke’s Bay clinched seven of the top spots including local icon Trinity Hill’s trifecta of Champion titles for Syrah, Red Blend and Red Wine of the Show, while Otago retained its prowess in Pinot Noir with three winning wines.  

Meanwhile New Zealand’s smallest wine regions – some representing just 1 to 3% of the country’s total wine production, punched above their weight with Top 50 wines from Gisborne, Wairarapa, Nelson and Canterbury.  

Champion Wines 2021 

Champion Aromatic: Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Albarino 2021 

Champion Bubbles: Lindauer Special Reserve Rosé 

Champion Chardonnay & Champion White Wine of the Show: te Pa Chardonnay 2020 

Champion Pinot Gris: Rapaura Springs Reserve Pinot Gris 2021 

Champion Pinot Noir: McArthur Ridge Brassknocker Pinot Noir 2020 

Champion Red Blend: Trinity Hill Hawke's Bay "The Trinity" 2020 

Champion Rosé: Waipara Hills Waipara Valley Rosé 2021 

Champion Sauvignon Blanc: Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021 

Champion Shiraz & Syrah & Champion Red Wine of the Show: Trinity Hill Hawke's Bay Syrah 2020 

Champion Single Variety Red: La Mascota Malbec 2019 

W: Full Top 50 results at newworld.co.nz/discover/wine-awards