18 May 2022: After already receiving 97 points and a Gold Medal, Trinity Hill is excited to announce their Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 has been awarded three trophies at the 2022 International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London overnight; these being the International Chardonnay Trophy, New Zealand White Trophy and Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay Trophy.
The IWC notes, “New Zealand was … recognised for its world-class Chardonnay, being awarded the International Chardonnay Trophy for the very first time, a category that has traditionally been dominated by French wines. The top performing wine was the Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 from Hawke’s Bay producer Trinity Hill Wines.”
On receiving this news Chief Winemaker Warren Gibson commented, “Having been awarded the International Chardonnay trophy, judged alongside an incredible number and strength of worldwide entries, represents a massive achievement for the Trinity Hill team. We have spent much time in recent years focusing and fine-tuning our vineyard and winemaking practices with the aim of sophistication and grace in our finished product. We have collectively known that we were reaching our goals and this award validates our hard work and belief.”
Viticulturist Wayne Walton adds “This wine was grown on our ‘Tin Shed’ vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing Region. This vineyard is the heart of Trinity Hill’s Chardonnay growing program, and in the 2020 vintage produced some of the purest expressions of Chardonnay I have seen.”
“To win the International Chardonnay Trophy in a category where this wine was judged alongside those from the world’s top Chardonnay producing regions, such as Burgundy, signifies the strength of our Gimblett Gravels vineyards, the expertise of our winemakers and viticulturists, and the rewards of our ongoing dedication to Hawke’s Bay as New Zealand’s premier Chardonnay producing region,” says Trinity Hill’s CEO Rebecca Poynter.
New Zealand collected one other International Trophy for Sauvignon Blanc and 12 Gold Medals, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc a strong theme.
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 has a suggested retail price of $39.99 and is available online at Trinityhill.com and from discerning wine retailers.
About The International Wine Challenge:
The International Wine Challenge (IWC) is a British-based wine challenge held every year since 1984. It is recognised as the world’s most rigorous, impartial, and influential annual wine competition. The IWC judging process assesses every wine ‘blind’ to find the highest quality wines each year from the 52 wine-producing countries represented in the competition.
The full list of award winners in the 2022 International Wine Challenge released on 17th May can be seen here. The IWC 2022 Champions, which are selected following a re-tasting of all trophy-winning wines by the IWC Co-Chairs, will be revealed at the IWC 2022 Awards announcement on Thursday 7th July.
About Trinity Hill:
Trinity Hill is an iconic New Zealand winery celebrating over 25 years of world-class winemaking in the famed Gimblett Gravels District of Hawke’s Bay. In 1993, having recognised the outstanding potential of the Hawkes Bay’s Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district, Trinity Hill became one of the region’s early pioneers, planting grape vines on a barren plot which continues to produce exceptional wines today.
Imagery: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6o1qnqd3gv08mek/AACTh3Lt8Q1pgvRKbdFaqcHua?dl=0
For further information:
Lucy Pearce
Marketing & Digital Manager
lucy@trinityhill.com | 027 392 0640
Warren Gibson
Chief Winemaker