The winners were announced at a prestigious celebration lunch on Friday afternoon where some of the Saint Clair team were shouting from rooftops when two wines from their portfolio were announced as trophy winners. Saint Clair James Sinclair Pinot Gris 2021 was awarded the Label & Litho Champion Pinot Gris trophy and the Saint Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Pinot Blanc 2019 was awarded the Move Freight Champion Other White Wine.
Sponsored by QuayConnect the Marlborough Wine Show is a regional wine competition that is dedicated to showcasing excellence, provenance, and diversity of Marlborough wines.
An astounding 550 wines were entered into this year’s awards judged by seventeen judges including Australian Master of Wine Annette Lacey. Chief Judge Ben Glover commented that following a recent overseas marketing trip “people are wanting to see more Marlborough varieties. Now there is real interest in other varieties. But it’s still hard out there and that is why it’s important to be able to deliver a clear and concise picture of all that is happening in the Marlborough wine world through something as detailed as the Marlborough Wine Show.” These two trophy wines from Saint Clair will showcase something different from Marlborough and be sure to satisfy customer interest in ‘other’ varietals from the world-renowned wine region.
Saint Clair James Sinclair Pinot Gris 2021 is elegant and opulent with layers of pear, pastry, and a subtle savoury character finishing clean and dry. Saint Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Pinot Blanc 2019 comes from a warm, free draining moderate vigour site at the Waihopai and Wairau River confluence. The wine has flavours of fresh green apple and honeydew melon layered with citrus peel. The palate displays crisp bright acidity with fresh fruit sweetness and an oily texture.
This is the fourth year in a row that Saint Clair has taken home at least one trophy from the Marlborough Wine Show. This clearly displays quality and consistency, and one of the many supporting factors of why the family-owned Marlborough winery have a solid reputation of being a leading New Zealand wine producer.
Marlborough Wine Show – Previous Four Years
2022 Trophy Saint Clair James Sinclair Pinot Gris 2021 – Champion Pinot Gris
2022 Trophy Saint Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Pinot Blanc 2019 – Champion Other White
2021 Trophy Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021 – Champion Sauvignon Blanc
2021 Trophy Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021 – Champion Wine of the Show
2021 Trophy Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Chardonnay 2007, 2013, 2016 – Legacy Award
2021 Trophy Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – Wine of Provenance
2020 Trophy Saint Clair Pioneer Block 5 Grüner Veltliner 2020 – Champion Other White
2019 Trophy Saint Clair Pioneer Block 9 Big John Riesling 2018 – Champion Riesling
