New Zealand has again shown that size doesn’t matter in wine, by taking a host of top awards from both the International Wine & Spirits Competition and the International Wine Challenge. Trophy-winning Kiwi wines at the IWSC were Ata Rangi’s classy 1999 Pinot Noir (Best Pinot Noir), the Mud House Sauvignon Blanc 2000 (Best Sauvignon Blanc), Babich Marlborough Riesling (Best Riesling) and the Daniel No 1 (Le Brun), for the Best Bottle Fermented Sparkling Wine. At the IWC, the world’s largest wine competition (and one of its most contentious), New Zealanders won ten gold medals. In fact, its hit rate of 81% for its 332 entries is rather admirable.



