Best New Zealand red wines: 11 award-winning bottles to try

When most people think about New Zealand wine, their minds likely drift to Sauvignon Blanc. (Is there a pub, bar or restaurant in the UK that doesn’t have a bottle of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc on the drinks list?) Its success has been staggering. But naturally, the country produces a much more diverse range of wines and the best New Zealand red wine is now getting the attention it deserves, despite a higher average price point.

There’s a lot to discover with New Zealand’s dominant red variety, Pinot Noir, with nearly 6,000 hectares planted across the country. But fuller-bodied reds like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot also deserve to be shouted about.

With vineyards protected by large mountain ranges, extensive variation between temperatures across the day and night, long sunshine hours and an impressively clean environment, conditions lend themselves to fabulously fruity wines that retain a lot of acidity. But more recently, regional diversity has emerged too. When it comes to Pinot Noir, you’ll find a savoury, Burgundian style in Martinborough, darker and more intense fruit in Central Otago, and fruit-driven lighter styles in Marlborough, for example.

Pinot Noir, Syrah and Merlot impressed judges the most at the IWSC 2024, with the three grape varieties featuring in ten out of the 11 top spots.

Vineyard and mountains in Central Otago — Central Otago, New Zealand’s southernmost wine region is filled with mountains, lakes and big skies

Syrah is the third most planted red variety in New Zealand but Pinot Noir still accounts for 73%, with Syrah at just 6%. As they say, it’s about quality not quantity and certain regions of the country are gaining reputations for some of best Syrah-based wines in the world. Take Pask’s 2022 Syrah from Hawke’s Bay, which scored 92 points and a Silver medal at the IWSC 2024 for being ‘juicy and refined’ with ‘plums, violets and herbs, like thyme, lavender and bay.’

Moving over to South Island and the cool climate, high-sunshine Waihopai Valley in the Southern Valleys in Marlborough with Jackson Estate’s Somerset Single Vineyard Ned Pinot Noir 2017, which scored 95 points and a Gold medal. Judges described it as ‘powerful and structured, with precise acidity and well-integrated oak,’ and said that a ‘savoury character adds complexity and enhances the balance of the finish.’ Staying in Marlborough for another high achiever, the ‘silky and concentrated’ Marisco Vineyards Emma Marris Pinot Noir 2022 scored 91 points and a Silver medal.

Some of New Zealand’s, and indeed the world’s, finest and most elegant reds are now coming from Gimblett Gravels on the North Island. This is shown in Trinity Hill’s Hawkes Bay Syrah 2021, which scored 92 points and a Silver medal with its ‘plump, playful fruit character with black cherries, blackberries and a hint of mint.’

Read on for more details on the 11 top bottles of New Zealand red wine as tasted and rated by the experts.

New Zealand Pinot Noir impressed the judges at the IWSC

HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE WINES?

We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.

HOW DO WE SCORE THESE WINES?

Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.

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