NZ beats Burgundy at its own game

New Zealand made its mark as a producer of fine Pinot Noir this week by triumphing over Burgundy in the Decanter World Wine Awards. Bald Hills Bannockburn from Central Otago beat wines from the home of the grape variety to win best Pinot Noir for its 2005 vintage.

Another New World success story was South Africa, which picked up three International Trophies for its red wines, including the Bordeaux Blend Trophy for Oak Valley’s 2004 The Oak Valley Blend. Of Australia’s four prizes, two were for its Rieslings. The Over £10 Trophy went to Pewsey Vale’s The Contours Riesling Museum Reserve, 2001, and Yalumba’s Y Series 2006 was the under £10 winner.

Sainsbury’s proved that own-brand wines shouldn’t be underestimated by taking a pair of International Trophies for Taste the Difference bottles. Its 2005 French Gewurztraminer won in the White Dry Aromatic category and its 12-year-old Oloroso Sherry came out tops as the Fortified under £10.

However, Waitrose proved to be Decanter readers’ favourite supermarket. It was voted first from a shortlist by the magazine’s readers for the second-year running.

Readers also named Majestic High Street Retailer of the Year and The Wine Society Online Merchant of the Year. Laithwaites took Independent Merchant of the Year and The Secret Cellar in Tunbridge Wells is likely to be less of a secret now it’s achieved status as best Small Independent Merchant.