Luna Estate’s Pinot Noir 2021 has been named in this year’s New World Wine Awards Top 50 – making it the only Wairarapa vineyard to secure a much sought-after gold sticker in the recent awards.
For a region that produces only 1 per cent of New Zealand’s wine, securing a spot in the New World Wine Awards Top 50 out of 1200 entries is something Luna Estate Head Wine Maker Joel Watson attributes to a hardworking and committed team.
“There’s a traditional thing that, for whatever reason, they give the winemaker all the praise, but honestly, it’s only a small part of it. It’s a combination of a long season filled with lots of effort from my team and the people who work the vines. It’s pretty much a team game.”
The wine appeals to people due to its “richness-in-the-mouth feel” and its “real intensity overall,” Watson said.
Due to challenging weather conditions during the 2021 harvest season, Watson said they produced a smaller crop than anticipated.
“You’ve spent all this time, energy and money to try and bring a crop home, and it’s half the size – it’s frustrating.
“All seasons are challenging, and it’s farming, so it’s hard, but you take what comes.
Co-chair of judges Sam Kim said: “Our independent panel of wine experts tasted and scored the entries over three full days, first awarding the Gold medal winners, then tasting through these wines again and again to determine the 50 best for this list.
“All the judging was blind – meaning we didn’t know the brand or price point of any entry, so consumers can trust that every winning wine really measures up.”
The Top 50 winners earned themselves a gold medal sticker, and their product will be on sale at nationwide New World supermarkets for five weeks, or while stocks last.
“Seeking out a New World Wine Awards Gold medal makes choosing a top wine easy, but it’s also a great way to discover new brands and find new favourites,” Kim said.
