Home Winners > Winners 2015 > NEW WORLD: Pinot Gris

Winner Details

New World: Pinot Gris


2015: Gold 1 Silver 1 Bronze 3 Commended 4
2014: Gold 1 Silver 1 Bronze 1 Commended 1


There’s a growing school of thought that, rather than Riesling, <B>New Zealand</B> should be focusing on Pinot Gris as its quirky, niched white variety after Sauvignon and Chardonnay. And certainly on this evidence it’s performing better than Riesling in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Prices were, admittedly, fairly ballsy (only one under a tenner), but four medals compared with just two for Riesling suggests that there’s potential here. Certainly our tasters thought so. They enjoyed the texture, the food-friendliness and the Alsace-lite style of Gris. Let’s have a few more in 2016 to prove the point!

Star Performer

This was the second year on the trot that a Kiwi Pinot Gris has picked up a Food Match Trophy. Last year it was Mount Difficulty for Pork Belly, this year Spy Valley for Veal.

FOOTNOTE: Pinot Gris costing under £12 ex-VAT can be entered either here or in the relevant Varietal Classics category.

From The Tasting Teams


 ‘At entry level we found easy, fresh styles, but stepping up you need to deliver more: fruit and some texture, viscosity from skin contact. I think that the customer deserves that, too; not overworked wines, but with some good expression. When good, the New World can do this very well.’ Gus Gluck, Vinoteca King’s Cross

‘Because of the recognition and popularity, this is a good wine to encourage people to look a little higher up the list. But you also don’t want to put people off by trying to switch them over from a simple Pinot Grigio to an Alsace style.’ Olivier Marie, team leader

‘With Pinot Grigio, New Zealand can point the way, delivering fresh styles that also have flavour and varietal character; balanced wines with some interest. Then there is more food compatibility.’ Richard Brooks, Caroline Catering

Award winners

Found 9 wines

New World: Pinot Gris

Spy Valley, Pinot Gris 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand

Gold medal winner Food Match

'The palate is rich and mouthfilling, with exciting stone fruit notes and fine acidity,' said Francesco Gabriele of Vetiver at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa.

'Lithe, and off-dry, but a gentle generosity, with spice, purity and length,' said team leader Simon Woods.

'Defined, long and polished,' added Andrea Fasan of La Petite Maison. While it scooped the Veal Food Match Trophy, Woods felt that it 'Would be lovely with scallops with chilli and ginger or Thai crab.'

£11.26 Bibendum

Mt Difficulty, Bannockburn, Pinot Gris 2014, Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand

Silver medal winner

'Clear expression of slightly under-ripe apricot. Lovely richness and nice herbal character, with complexity too,' said Gus Gluck of Vinoteca King's Cross, with team leader Olivier Marie highlighting: 'Nettles and tarragon with pear, Gala apple and blossom notes.'

£10.80 Ellis of Richmond

Gladstone Vineyard, Jealous Sisters, Pinot Gris 2014, Wairarapa, New Zealand

Bronze medal winner

'Lemon sherbety fizz on the nose, fleshy and fat, nice mid-palate, if falling away slightly. Good value,' said Gus Gluck of Vinoteca King's Cross.

'Lovely orchard fruit and yellow plum palate,' added team leader Olivier Marie.

£7.20 Boutinot

Accolade Wines, Bay of Fires, Pinot Gris 2014, Tasmania, Australia

Bronze medal winner

'A big, rich, zingy wine, with loads of rich, ripe fruit,' said Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, adding: 'Attractive example of its style.'

£11.20 Matthew Clark

The Elder, Pinot Gris 2014, Martinborough, New Zealand

Bronze medal winner

'Delicate and delectable, with a complex fruitiness, elegant and stylish,' said Francesco Gabriele of Vetiver at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, with team leader Richard Bampfield MW adding: ‘A revelation on the palate, with genuine spice and flavour with texture. Rather classy.’

£22.00

Sileni, Cellar Selection, Pinot Gris 2013, Hawkes Bay , New Zealand

Commended medal winner

£7.70 Boutinot

Yealands, Single Vineyard, Pinot Gris 2013, Marlborough , New Zealand

Commended medal winner

£9.82 Enotria&Coe

Paracombe, Pinot Gris 2014, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£16.15 Matthew Clark

Escarpment, Pinot Gris 2013, Martinborough, New Zealand

Commended medal winner