Going for Gold at 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect
Going for Gold at 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnectMedia Release: Friday 24 October 2025
Nearly 100 wines have been awarded gold medals at the 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
Ninety-one golds were awarded - the highest number since records began in 2012, following a stellar 2024 vintage and stunning weather conditions leading into the 2025 harvest.
Chief Judge Stu Marfell said the 2024 season had been a hard act to follow, and that this year’s entries included Pinot Noir and Chardonnay entries of that vintage.
“They were pretty amazing,” he says. “Then with the 2025 vintage, there were such beautiful weather conditions coming into harvest and there was some pristine fruit, and that was coming through in those aromatic whites. The Sauvignon Blanc has been absolutely outstanding in particular.”
Alongside the 91 gold medals, 144 silver and 180 bronze medals were awarded. The class that received the most gold medals this year was Sauvignon Blanc, current vintage being 2025 wines.
Stu was joined by Guest Judges Sam Kim and Australian judge Toni Paterson, Master of Wine, as well as 12 local judges in tasting more than 600 wines, which made up 562 entries this year.
Sam and Toni were both impressed by this year’s Sparkling, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay entries, with Sam saying many of the Sparkling wines were world-class, and Toni describing the region’s Chardonnay as ‘extraordinary’.
“There was a wide range of styles, from quite opulent Chardonnays, with balanced acidity, to really nuanced wines that were more reserved with detailed flecks of complexity,” she says.
Six gold medals were awarded to Sparkling wines this year, more than doubling the two awarded in 2023.
Stu was pleased to have the support of Sam Kim as Guest Judge for the second year running, and to have the expertise of Toni Patterson MW on the panel for the first time. Judging for the event took place over three days, and would not be possible without a strong team, he says.
“Toni Patterson has been amazing, so good to have on the team, and it’s been great to show her what we’ve got. We also brought on some new judges this year from outside the winemaking sphere, and had some new associate judges coming through and doing a really great job, so it’s been nice to see that progression.”
Trophy winners will be revealed at a Marlborough Wine Show Celebration event on 14 November.
