Poutama client, and Māori whānau owned Te Pa Family Vineyards of Marlborough, has been shortlisted for the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s (IWSC) hotly contested White Wine Producer of the Year trophy.

Thousands of wines are entered into the prestigious IWSC each year, with just a handful of wine producers making it to the shortlist stage for the producer trophies.

Te Pa owner and founder, Haysley MacDonald, says of the nomination – “To be named on the shortlist for White Wine Producer of the Year in the IWSC is an incredible moment and milestone for our team.”

“As an up and coming, fast-growing, indigenous Māori family-owned wine company in one of the most remote wine regions in the world, to be recognised by the esteemed judges of the IWSC for the world-class quality of our white wine production is a source of immense pride for myself, my whānau and our team.”

“Our range of wines, led by our white wine programme and our Sauvignon Blanc in particular, is already well received by our distribution and retail partners and by wine loving consumers around the world.  To have this acknowledgement by the top wine critics lets us know we’re on the right path with our focus on quality, style and expression of place.”

Collection of IWSC medals for white and red wines

Te Pa won three medals for its white wine entries this year, including an outstanding 95-point score and gold medal for its Te Pa 2021 Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc.  It was the only gold medal awarded to a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in the competition.

Te Pa’s Pa Road 2021 Sauvignon Blanc was awarded a silver medal and the acclaimed Te Pa 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Oke was awarded a bronze medal.  In addition to the trio of medals for its white wines, Te Pa also won two medals for its red wines taking out bronze medals for its 2021 Pinot Noir and Pa Road 2021 Pinot Noir.

Trophy winners will be announced at the IWSC Awards Dinner & Industry Celebration, to be held in London on 29 September 2022.

More information about the whānau-owned vineyard can be found on its website and on Instagram.