Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2017: There's something about chardonnay

The New Zealand wine industry celebrated the best in the business on Saturday night, with chardonnay crowned this year's top drop.

A Marlborough chardonnay has been crowned top drop at the 2017 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

The Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016 took home the prestigious Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show trophy on Saturday night, as well as the Rabobank Champion Chardonnay trophy, during a glittering showcase that celebrated some of the country's finest wines.

Chair of judges Warren Gibson described the Isabel Chardonnay as "a classy example of the chardonnay in this year’s competition."

“It has a beautiful balance of components with a rich long finish,” he said. “It’s packed with flavour but still maintains a remarkable lightness on its feet.”

The team behind the magic, Isabel Estate Vineyard, are widely-recognised throughout the Marlborough region as a pioneering vineyard, having planted their first vineyards in 1980. The trick, one might ask, all comes down to "respecting the soil" or the terroir where the grapes are grown, and allowing "the unique characters of each vineyard and variety to be expressed in the final wine" said chief winemaker, Jeremy McKenzie.

The second highest accolade of the evening, the O-I New Zealand Reserve Wine of the Show trophy, went to the Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016. This impressive pinot, made by chief winemaker Stu Marfell of Foley Family Wines, also won the JF Hillebrand New Zealand Champion Pinot Noir trophy.

Among its many accolades, this beautiful pinot also received the Dish Magazine Champion Open Red Wine Award.

"It's great to see so many quality wines available at such an achievable price point, ensuring all wine-lovers can enjoy the very best of New Zealand wines," said Dish editor, Vanessa Marshall.

"Dish proud to support such a wonderful event, and congratulates all award-winners on the success of their entries."

Following an impressive 1300 entries, seventeen trophies were announced during Saturday night's awards dinner, hosted by Jack Tame and Renee Wright.

Here are the full list of this year's Air New Zealand Wine Awards Winners:

Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show

Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016

O-I New Zealand Reserve Wine of the Show

Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016

JF Hillebrand New Zealand Champion Pinot Noir

Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016

Label and Litho Limited Champion Sauvignon Blanc

Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc Wairau Valley Marlborough 2017

Rabobank Champion Chardonnay

Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016

Dish magazine Champion Open Red Wine

Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016

Bayleys Real Estate Champion Merlot, Cabernet and Blends

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Organic Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2016

Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah

Coopers Creek Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2016

Guala Closures New Zealand Champion Pinot Gris

Saddleback Pinot Gris Central Otago 2017

New World Champion Open White Wine

Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc Wairau Valley Marlborough 2017

New Zealand Winegrowers Champion Sweet Wine

Forrest Botrytised Riesling Marlborough 2016

Plant & Food Research Champion Riesling

Mount Riley Riesling Marlborough 2017

Quay Connect Champion Other White Styles

Nautilus Albariño Marlborough 2017

Riedel New Zealand Champion Gewürztraminer

Lawson's Dry Hills Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2016

WineWorks Champion Sparkling Wine

Aotea by the Seifried Family Méthode Traditionnelle Nelson NV

New Zealand Winegrowers Champion Exhibition White or Sparkling Wine

Isabel Wild Barrique Chardonnay Marlborough 2016

New Holland Agriculture Champion Exhibition Red Wine

Falcon Ridge Estate Syrah Nelson 2016

To learn more about this year's awards, visit the Air New Zealand Wine Awards website here.