We are elated to announce the outstanding results from the 2023 Global Fine Wine Challenge. Lake Chalice Wines have won two esteemed trophies for the 2020 Lake Chalice Plume Chardonnay. This outstanding wine was named Champion Chardonnay as well as White Wine of the Show, and we couldn’t be more delighted. 

Lake Chalice have also been awarded Double Gold medals for our 2022 Falcon Sauvignon Blanc and 2022 Falcon Rosé which was also awarded Runner Up to the Champion Rosé. To be invited to enter this competition is an honour in itself, but to take home these accolades is an outstanding achievement for the entire team.

Exclusive to  New World nations, this challenge is accessible by invitation only and is restricted to the top 120 wines of each country competing – Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. The very best selections across 22 classes are made by country representatives in light of their intimate knowledge of their own nation’s wines.

“All trophy and medal-winning wines are virtually self-endorsing. The producers who find themselves going home empty handed can console themselves with the knowledge that it is almost sufficient simply to have been selected to compete in the Olympics. An award is gratifying, the achievement is simply to have been there.” Michael Fridjhon, South African Judge.

Lake Chalice is honored to represent New Zealand alongside other top producers. To be awarded the Champion Chardonnay Trophy and also White Wine of the Show has been something very special for Lake Chalice Winemaker Chloe Gabrielsen and the team. 

“Our winemaking team at Lake Chalice are super passionate about the Plume and alongside Anne, and Peter Reed who are humble in their expertise in growing standout Chardonnay, we are able to provide a platform for this vineyard to shine through Plume. We are pretty blown away here in the Wairau by these fantastic results – could it get any better!

Huge congratulations to Peter and Anne Reed and our team here at the winery, it has been a fantastic year for us.

Itiiti rearea, teitei Kahikatea ka taea

Although the rearea is small it can ascend the lofty heights of the Kahikatea tree.” Chloe Gabrielsen, Lake Chalice Winemaker.

The range of wines selected in this competition showcases the best the New World has to offer and we are elated to have won two of the five trophies awarded to New Zealand out of the 22 on offer. Jarrah Prior (Lake Chalice Viticulturist) is especially proud of this award, as an advocate for Marlborough Chardonnay, he is proud to see the variety continue to shine on the global stage. 

“It’s fantastic to see Marlborough Chardonnay getting the recognition it deserves. It truly is one of Marlborough’s best kept secrets. We have idyllic conditions here for Chardonnay and I feel the quality is there to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the great Chardonnay regions of the world. A shout out to Peter and Anne Reed who grow this fruit for us – their dedication and painstaking attention to detail is second to none.” Jarrah Prior, Lake Chalice Viticulturist. 

Since its release this year, the Plume Chardonnay 2020 has been awarded a plethora of outstanding accolades that showcase Marlborough Chardonnay on the global stage. As well as these recent trophies, the Plume Chardonnay 2020 has been awarded the following this year: 

  • Decanter World Wine Awards 2023: Platinum Medal, 97 points
  • Aotearoa Regional Wine Competition 2023:
    • Trophy – White Wine of Show
    • Trophy – Champion Chardonnay 
    • Trophy – Marlborough Regional Wine Winner
  • New Zealand International Wine Show 2023: Gold Medal 
  • Cuisine Magazine International & NZ Chardonnay Tasting: #1

Lake Chalice would like to thank everyone involved in the Global Fine Wine Challenge and Jane Skilton MW for selecting us to represent New Zealand. A huge congratulations to all that were invited to represent their country and to all the other trophy winners.