International wine publication The Real Review has named its top wineries of New Zealand for this year, with four Central Otago wineries landing in the top 10 and three in the top five.
This is alongside this year’s Aotearoa New Zealand Organic Wine Awards which has delivered further honours to the region’s producers — with Quartz Reef Wines among the biggest winners across both.
Quartz Reef founder and winemaker Rudi Bauer was named The Real Review’s Vigneron (winemaker) of the Year — recognised for his outstanding achievement as both winemaker and grape grower.
All certified organic, Felton Road, Prophet’s Rock and Quartz Reef all placed in the national top five, with Rippon Vineyard coming in at number nine.
Burn Cottage took out Red Wine of the Year for its Sabines Selection Pinot Noir 2022, while Cloudy Bay received Sparkling Wine of the Year for its Pelorus Brut Chardonnay Pinot Noir Vintage 2013.
The Organic Wine Awards added further honours including Quartz Reef which was named Sustainable Vineyard of the Year and took Champion Sparkling for its Methode Traditionnelle Vintage Blanc de Blancs 2019, with gold medals for its Pinot Noir 2023, Methode Traditionnelle Brut NV, Methode Traditionnelle Rose NV and Pinot Gris 2024.
Rising Star of the Year went to Jascha Oldham-Selak and Sanne Witteveen of Vilaura.
Mr Bauer said the recognition belonged to more than just one winery.
‘‘This award belongs to the outstanding team at Quartz Reef as much as to me.
‘‘It is also a meaningful recognition of New Zealand vignerons, with Central Otago proudly among the regions leading the way, whose deep commitment to land stewardship and wine growing integrity continues to shape distinctive wines of world-class quality.’’
The Real Review was very important as it was an international wine publication with a wide public reach.
It helped promote outstanding wine quality with care of the land a priority — and gave consumers a guide to organic and biodynamic wines, he said.
‘‘In Central Otago there are now 30% of the vineyards organic or bio dynamic certified or in conversion.
‘‘The New Zealand average is 7%.
‘‘So, this is a real milestone.’’
Quartz Reef has been fully certified Demeter biodynamic and BioGro organic since it was founded in Bendigo in 1996.
Mr Bauer said the focus now was on continuing to improve viticulture and winemaking, increasing biodiversity in the vineyard and reducing the carbon footprint.
Looking ahead, his goal was to actively promote Central Otago on a united front, and ‘‘ to be engaging ambassadors on the world stage for our outstanding premium wines, all from our beautiful region’’.
