007 out of seven golds. Spy Valley takes LWC “Winery of the Year New Zealand”
007 out of seven golds. Spy Valley takes LWC “Winery of the Year New Zealand”PRESS RELEASE: SPY VALLEY WINES
Spy Valley Wines has gone seven for seven, winning golds for all their wines at the 2026 London Wine Competition and earning “Winery of the Year New Zealand”.
Among the seven golds were 2023 Envoy by Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc, 2024 Spy Valley Chardonnay, and 2025 Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc.
The London Wine Competition is one of the world's prestigious competitions with over fifty Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, and industry gatekeepers judging over 1300 wines from hundreds of wineries from around the world.
“To be recognised on this stage is incredible,” said owner and managing director Amanda Johnson. “We’ve always believed that if you stay true to your land and your standards, the results will follow. This is a proud moment for our entire team and reflects our disciplined focus on quality.”
Spy has been on a run of success, earning trophies for their Satellite and Spy Valley Sauvignon Blancs at the 2024 Hong Kong IWSC, and 2025 Global Wine & Spirits Awards Asia, where they also won the Best NZ Wine with their 2024 Spy Valley Gewurztraminer.
“Achieving strong results across our Sauvignon Blanc range is fantastic,” Winemaker Emily Gaspard-Clark said. “It’s equally rewarding to see this success reflected across our other varietals. Seven wines, seven golds across multiple styles show we’re here to do more than just one thing - and that’s truly fulfilling”.
Family-owned and operated, the estate has spent more than three decades shaping its legacy in the Waihopai Valley, emerging as one of the region’s most distinctive and respected wineries. Set in one of New Zealand’s sunniest pockets, the vineyard is rooted in rugged stony, gravelly, and alluvial soils - terrain once dismissed as too dry and unforgiving. Today, that same challenging landscape defines the character, intensity, and unmistakable identity of its wines.
Head of Viticulture and Winery operations, Adam McCone added, “It wasn’t easy establishing the estate vineyards, so achieving consistent excellence across our range means a great deal to us. We’ve poured heart and hard work into every stage - from vineyard to bottle - and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that effort recognized.”
Quality is a core mission for Spy Valley Wines. The wine industry has seen some headwinds, and as a member of Appellation Marlborough Wine, Spy Valley Wines believes the key is not to compromise on quality during this time and to get out there and be seen. Johnson said, “We are appreciative that global competitions like the London Wine Competition are still out there being champions for our industry, and it means a lot for all of us making wine on this island, far away from the rest of the world.”
London Wine Competition Results
· Gold, 2023 Envoy by Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Johnson Vineyard
· Gold, 2025 Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc
· Gold, 2024, Spy Valley Gewürztraminer
· Gold, 2024, Spy Valley Chardonnay
· Gold, 2025, Satellite by Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc
· Gold 2025, Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc First Release
· Gold 2025, Kimi Sauvignon Blanc