The Central App

Award hat-trick for Alexandra's McArthur Ridge vineyard

The Central App

Anna Robb

09 March 2022, 5:30 PM

Award hat-trick for Alexandra's McArthur Ridge vineyardPHOTO: McArthur Ridge Supplied

An Alexandra vineyard has scooped three awards in the New Zealand International Wine Show.


McArthur Ridge Vineyard claimed golden gongs for Lilico Rose 2021, Southern Tor Pinot Noir 2020 and Winemaker of the show went to McArthur Ridge's winemaker Matt Connell.


The awards celebration took place in Auckland on February 25.

McArthur Ridge's team celebrating success are (from left) Matt Connell, Jason Dellaca and Murray Petrie with the awards. PHOTO: Supplied


McArthur Ridge shareholder Jason Dellaca said he was thrilled with the awards.


"For the past 12 months we've been focusing on building our wine brand.


"This is an amazing way to start that journey.


"We've known for a long time that we produce amazing fruit... and through partnering with a skilled winemaker - Matt Connell, we've been given proof of what we always thought - we have the ability to do this.


"We're planning on singing from the rooftops we are from the Alexandra Basin. That is, we want to help to champion 'Alexandra' as a wine sub region in Central Otago".


The trophy for Champion Rose went to McArthur Ridge's Lilico Rose 2021, described as being medium dry with touches of strawberry, apricot and watermelon.


Their award winning Southern Tor Pinot Noir is said to be bright ruby in the glass and have a palate full of black cherries, smoky oak and gamey characters.


Last year McArthur Ridge's Pinot Noir Brassknocker won champion Pinot Noir at the New World wine awards.


The current McArthur Ridge vineyard was established in 2001, the first plantings occurring in 2002.


A year later the vineyard doubled in size, with another significant expansion taking place in 2007.



The first vintage arrived in 2006.


There were 24 trophies awarded throughout the event, including for best in class wines, winemaker and wine company of the show. 

After a delay of six months, judging was completed last month.


There were 1780 entries from Australia, USA, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Germany and Georgia.


Of those entries, a team of 20 senior judges awarded 265 gold or double gold medals.