Gisborne chardonnay up for People’s Choice award

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Reserve Chardonnay 2022 produced by Wrights Vineyard and Winery of Gisborne has been named as a finalist in the Organic NZ People’s Choice wine awards.

Public voting officially opened this week and closes on May 2.

“We are a small winery and we’ve been going since 2000, so being a finalist is very meaningful to us,” said Wrights Vineyard cellar door and business manager Alice Poncet.

“We are trying to encourage people to spread the word and to support our wine and to help a beautiful chardonnay from the ‘Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand’ win this year.

The wine was barrel-aged for 12 months and underwent full malolactic fermentation.

“It was aged in new oak barrels for 12 months, with French and American barrels,” she said.

“This wine is our highest rated chardonnay, and it has received great reviews from several wine critics.”

One critic said of the wine . . .“impressively complex and engaging, the bouquet shows mango, baked fig, vanillin oak and brioche characters, leading to a concentrated palate offering terrific power and opulence, while remaining balanced and harmonious. Beautifully layered with rich texture and delicious flavours, making it hugely appealing.”

Another said: “Deepening golden hues and a bright polished appearance lead to a bouquet of ripe roasted stone fruits led by nectarine then peach, some vanilla-cream suggestions and bold curvaceous attack. On the palate, full-bodied and silken in texture, flavours of peaches and nectarines, roasted apple and grapefruit.”

A third said: “Straw-hued, it is fleshy and concentrated, with rich, ripe stonefruit flavours, strongly seasoned with biscuity, nutty oak, balanced acidity and a smooth, well-rounded finish. Already quite open and expressive, it’s a drink now or cellaring proposition.”

To vote in the awards, go to organicnz.org.nz/organic-week/beverage-of-the-year/