27 July, Dear Marlborough wine producers,

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1 27 July, 2011 Dear Marlborough wine producers, I am delighted to announce the first competition exclusively for Marlborough wines. Never has there been a better time to celebrate and promote the diversity of our wines and our sub-regions we have so many strong points of difference which is exactly what is needed in today s competitive market. Yes another wine show so why enter this one? Because it is for Marlborough, by Marlborough. As your regional show, this could be one of the most important competitions you enter. The objective is to demonstrate to the world s wine media and global wine markets that Marlborough offers significant and valuable diversity through its wine styles and sub-regions. Having come of age within the sphere of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, it is time to discover, embrace and promote our other wine styles as well as diversity within Sauvignon Blanc itself. Mission The Marlborough Wine Show will review, assess and showcase style diversity and sub-regionality using a panel of professional, experienced senior judges. This will provide the following outcomes: Acknowledgment of and rewards for quality Marlborough wines Trophies, gold, silver and bronze medal awards Distinction awards for wines that excel across consecutive vintages of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir Proof that Marlborough is about much more than Sauvignon Blanc Proof that there are a number of styles of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc A review and assessment of older vintages A relevant, credible platform for Marlborough producers to promote their wines A celebration of excellence Judging is taking place at the Marlborough Convention Centre on the 1 st and 2 nd September Chief Judge is Jeff Clarke of Ara leading a team of professional and experienced Senior Judges. Guest international judge is Melbourne-based Ben Edwards, President of the Australian Sommeliers Association. The event will offer pre-assigned Associate Judge roles together with stewarding positions to those with the relevant experience. Judging will be conducted using style-specific Spiegelau glassware. Results of the Marlborough Wine Show will be promoted through print and online (including social media) communications, individually tailored to media, wine consumers and trade both locally and overseas. This is the a first - we are open to your suggestions in order to evolve this event to better serve the Marlborough wine industry. Ideally we d like to run it a little later but this year needed to take into consideration the Rugby World Cup! We look forward to receiving your entries and delivering you a powerful vehicle from which to promote your wines. Should you have any queries please don t hesitate to contact myself or Margaret Cresswell. Belinda Jackson, Competition Director 1

2 Objective Demonstrate to the world s wine media and global wine markets that Marlborough offers significant and valuable diversity through its wine styles and sub-regions. Entry Information The competition management team is Belinda Jackson as Competition Director, Margaret Cresswell, Competition Administrator and Shona White, Chief Steward. The Marlborough Wine Show welcomes entries of wines made from 100% Marlborough grapes. These can be entered by the wine-producer or by distributors or agents. Entries open on Wednesday 27 July, 2011 and close on Friday 12 August, Any number of wines may be entered. There is an entry form accompanying this document. Entries may be submitted as follows: 1. Online at ed to margaret@winecompetitions.co.nz 3. Posted to PO Box 95, Renwick 7243, Marlborough 4. Faxed to (64) The entry fee is NZ$55 plus GST per wine. A GST Tax Invoice will be sent to you, due for payment on receipt. Entries not paid for will not be judged. Payment for entries can be made as follows: 1. Direct credit bank account number (Reference: MWS and the invoice number) 2. Cheque made payable to Wine Competition Limited and mailed to Marlborough Wine Show (MWS), PO Box 95, Renwick 7243, Marlborough Please do not include cheques with the wine samples sent for judging. Judging labels for wine samples and an address template for the carton/s will be sent to all entrants shortly after entries close. The envelope containing the labels will be clearly marked with the competition logo. Please do not send the wine(s) until you have affixed these labels to the bottles. Wines for judging must be delivered between 18 August and 29 August, 2011 to: Marlborough Wine Show, c/o Rapaura Vintners, 351 Jacksons Road, Blenheim RD1, Marlborough 2

3 Bottles required for judging purposes are as follows: Style Closure Size No. required Sparkling wines Screwcap 750ml 3 Sparkling wines Non-screwcap 750ml 4 Still table wines Screwcap 750ml 3 Still table wines Non-screwcap 750ml 4 Still table wines Screwcap or non-screwcap 375ml 5 Fortified Screwcap or non-screwcap 750ml, 500ml 3 Bottles of wine not required during the judging process will be auctioned and proceeds donated for research or specific projects to further develop and/or enhance the local industry. The auction will take place on Friday evening, 2 nd September following the judging and industry tasting. The judges include: Olly Masters winemaking consultant, Simon Waghorn Astrolabe, Patrick Materman Pernod-Ricard, Anna Flowerday Te Whare Ra, Cath Oates Mud House and guest international judge from Melbourne, Ben Edwards. Further information about Ben can be found here Wines will be judged as per the Schedule of Classes and evaluated on the standard 20 point scale with medals awarded on the following basis: Gold = 18.5 points or over Silver = 17.0 to 18.4 Bronze = 15.5 to 16.9 There will be a number of trophies including the Distinction Trophy, awarded to a Sauvignon Blanc label that excels across classes 2 to 4 and a Pinot Noir label that excels in classes 16 to 18. After each day s judging, local wine industry personnel are invited to come and taste the wines that have been judged that day Key Dates Activity 2011 Entries open Entries close Labels mailed to entrants for attaching to samples for judging Wine samples for judging to be received Judging at Marlborough Convention Centre, Blenheim followed by industry tastings Auction of unopened bottles of wine not required for judging purposes Medal results notified to entrants Medal stickers available by contacting Label & Litho Celebration of Marlborough wines and announcement of the 2011 Marlborough Wine Show trophies 27 July 12 August 17 August August 1-2 September 2 September 5 September 5 September 17 September 3

4 Entry Conditions 1. Wines entered must be made from 100% Marlborough grapes. These can be entered by any Marlborough producer, or distributor or agent for Marlborough wines. 2. All wines comprising the entry must be taken from, and be representative of, a homogeneous quantity of wine. Such wine may be produced in multiple lots or bottlings provided that: Every lot and/or bottling is composed of identical source materials blended in identical proportions and subjected to identical winemaking practices and processes as far as practically achievable in terms of good winemaking practice. Every lot and/or bottling is consistent in terms of sensory characteristics and chemical profile, allowing for analytical tolerances and the effects of maturation. It is fully consistent with all wine produced under that same label in that vintage and with that available in the market. 3. No tank or barrel samples permitted. 4. Wines entered must comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to winemaking and labeling. 5. Wines entered should be labelled and sealed as if for sale. A new vintage wine may carry a temporary label as long as it states all necessary regulatory information. 6. Entrants are required to have, for current vintages, a minimum of 150 cases of stock following release of the competition results. It is strongly advised that all trophy and medal-winning wines be available for general sale to meet the inevitable consumer demand following publicity from the event. 7. While every effort will be made to ensure wines are judged in the correct class, it is the entrant s responsibility to: a. Ensure that the wine is entered into the correct class and sub-class. We strongly suggest the winemaker oversees the entry. b. Ensure the wine and vintage as completed on the entry form is the wine that is entered and labelled and sent for judging. c. Ensure that wines to be judged are received at the correct address by the due date. 8. By submitting an entry into the Marlborough Wine Show, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of said competition. 9. If a wine is withdrawn, entry fees will not be refunded once judging labels have been produced. 10. Late entries will only be accepted at the discretion of the Competition Director and if accepted, will be subject to a late entry fee of $80 plus GST per wine entered. 11. The Competition Director reserves the right not to judge wines or to withhold results until outstanding entry fees are paid. 12. Any producer or supplier that breaches the rules of the 2011 Marlborough Wine Show will be disqualified, have medals or trophies withdrawn and may be prevented from entering the competition in future. 13. In the event of any dispute, the decision of the Competition Director, Chief Judge and organisers shall be final. 4

5 16. Producers or distributors whose wines receive a gold medal are required to provide four bottles free of charge to the event organisers for the Awards Evening and permit the organisers to purchase more if required. Publicity 1. Any advertising, promotion or publicity relating to or referring to medals, awards, trophies or accolades won in this competition must not be false, misleading or deceptive 2. References in any advertising, promotion or publicity to awards or trophies won in this competition (including the use of medal stickers) may only be made in respect of the wine represented by the entry bearing the label details under which the wine was entered 3. Any use of awards or trophies in advertising, promotional or publicity material must be accompanied by a statement of the actual awards and/or trophies won and the year or years in which they were won and any awards or trophies illustrated must relate to the awards and/or trophies so described 4. The only promotional material that may be affixed or attached to a bottle (e.g. label, sticker, necktag) to refer to an award, medal or trophy granted in this competition is the official 2011 Marlborough Wine Show sticker or licensed logo Audit procedure 1. All wines entered into the Marlborough Wine Show may be subject to verification of compliance with the regulations of the competition by auditors appointed by the organisers of the competition 2. The entrant agrees that organisers of the Marlborough Wine Show and/or their auditors may inspect stocks and uplift samples of wines bearing the same name details as the entry held at the premises of the entrant and inspect records of wines bearing the same name details as the entry, and agrees to facilitate such an inspection at a mutually convenient time within five days of the date of such request 3. Wines available for retail sale may be purchased in the course of the audit 4. Wines that are the subject of an audit may undergo sensory evaluation and/or chemical analysis as is appropriate and as directed by either the organisers of the Marlborough Wine Show or the Chief Judge or both 5. Any costs incurred in the audit, investigation and/or analysis of any entry or in relation to the disqualification of any entrant, are payable by the entrant The Marlborough Wine Show is totally independent, owned and operated by Wine Competition Ltd 5