Yealands Wines are celebrating a successful result at the highly respected International Wine Challenge (IWC). The 2023 medal results were announced last week, with three New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs earning Gold medals, including Yealands Estate Single Block S1 Sauvignon Blanc 2022 with 96 points. An additional 12 medals were awarded to Yealands - one for every wine entered by the producer.
Overnight the Trophy results were announced, with Yealands claiming the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Trophy for the Yealands Estate Single Block S1 2022. Chief Winemaker Natalie Christensen has also been shortlisted for the IWC's White Winemaker of the Year.
Christensen was excited to receive the news, "The IWC is highly competitive and influential so for our S1 Sauvignon Blanc to win a trophy again is incredible, but it's also encouraging to see our other varietals performing so well internationally. Every single wine we entered was awarded a medal which is really meaningful for me as it shows the breadth of our winemaking ability, and being shortlisted for the White Winemaker of the Year is testament to this!"
The judges comments on the Trophy winning Single Block S1 Sauvignon Blanc acknowledged its "Flagship style" of the Awatere Valley, and the wines "wonderful green flavours - green apple, pea pods, romaine lettuce, lime - all have their say and a sprinkling of salt makes it even more appetising."
The IWC has been running for 39 years and is regarded as one of the most rigorous and influential wine competitions in the world, with judging taking place over two weeks in late April. The IWC judging process assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Each IWC medal-winning wine is tasted on at least three separate occasions by a minimum of 2 panels of judges tasting together, and then tasted by 2 Co-Chairs to verify the panel results. Full results can be viewed here.
Trophy
Gold Medals
Silver Medals
Bronze Medals
