The International Wine Challenge awards Trinity Hill’s 2020 Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 97 points, naming it one of the show’s 13 best wines, highest rated New Zealand wine.

16 May 2022: Trinity Hill is excited to announce their 2022 International Wine Challenge results, with the Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 being awarded 97 points and a Gold medal. With only 11 other wines awarded 97 points, and one with 98; Trinity Hill’s Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 placed as one of the top 13 highest rated wines in the show, and the highest rated wine from a New Zealand winery.

“Achieving a 97-point score at one of the world’s most renowned wine competitions gives fantastic international recognition to the Trinity Hill brand,” says Trinity Hill Chief Winemaker Warren Gibson. “Over recent years, a huge focus has been given to our Chardonnay program and this result rewards the dedication and work carried out in the vineyards and in the cellar.”

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’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Each medal-winning wine will be tasted on at least three separate occasions by a minimum of two panels of judges tasting together, and then tasted by two Co-Chairs to verify the panel results.

The IWC judging teams include experts and influencers from the international wine industry, commercial decision makers, buyers and ‘Master of Wines’ working in unison to find the highest quality wines each year from the 52 wine-producing countries represented in the competition. With the breadth of entries in this show, Trinity Hill is extremely proud that this year’s judges awarded 97 points to the Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020, noting, “expressive yet nuanced nose, offering fine, fresh stone fruit and mineral aromas. Rich and weighty in the mouth with vibrancy and refreshment and a long, fine, textured finish.”

“2020 was an exceptional year for our Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay,” says Trinity Hill’s Viticulturalist Wayne Walton. “The weather conditions leading up to the 2020 harvest were typical of a classic Hawke’s Bay summer – long hot sunny days with moderate-cool nights. As Autumn arrived the season became cooler yet remained dry, providing ideal ripening conditions while preserving natural acidity.”

New Zealand collected 12 Gold Medal wines, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc a strong theme.

The International Wine Show Trophies will be announced on 17 May 2022, with the official Awards Announcement taking place on 7 July 2022.

Visit the IWC website for the full list of winners www.internationalwinechallenge.com

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 suggested retail $39.99. Available at Trinityhill.com and all good liquor retailers.

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.

Images available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6o1qnqd3gv08mek/AACTh3Lt8Q1pgvRKbdFaqcHua?dl=0

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