Five Trophies at Five Nations

New Zealand has won five trophies at the inaugural Five Nations Wine Challenge, judged in Sydney. Each of the five nations – New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Chile and Argentina – was represented by a wine writer, whose task it was to select 100 wines across 17 classes. Producers were then invited to enter the wines and the judges met to challenge their choices against each other. “The trophy cabernet this year came from an unexpected quarter: New Zealand,” Australian judge Huon Hooke wrote. “Even in Hawke’s Bay, where the winning Kidnapper Cliffs wine was produced, it’s usually a bit too cool for cabernet on its own and the best wines are merlot-cabernet blends. But 2009 was a great vintage, and it’s a beautiful, ripe wine.” New Zealand also won the pinot and chardonnay classes. New Zealander Master of Wine Bob Campbell was one of the five judges.