Champions List Public Tastings 2025
TBC
These are unique tastings in association with the New Zealand International Wine Show which will showcase the gold medal winners (ie the Champions List).
2025 NZ INTERNATIONAL WINE SHOW - IMPORTANT DATES
Closing date for entries
Friday 29 August 2025
Closing date for receipt of wine samples
Wednesday 10 September 2025
Set up day
Monday 15 September 2025
Judging
16 - 18 September 2025
Wineries notified of embargoed results
Monday 22 September 2025
Medal results available online
Monday 22 September 2025
Champions list / Gold medal public tasting
TBC
Awards Event
Friday 17 October 2025
Trophy results available online
From 18 October 2025
Publication of trophy winners and The Champions List
TBC
Dates and some aspects of the promotional programme may be subject to change at the discretion of the competition organisers.
PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
The 2025 Awards Presentation will be held in Auckland on Friday 18 October. The Champions List Tastings will be confirmed at a later date.
Trophy, Double Gold, Gold, Silver & Bronze medal labels will be available to purchase to identify and promote the top wines.
Full listings of all the medal winners will be displayed on www.nziws.co.nz. Trophy results will be listed after the Awards Event.
PROMOTIONAL FEES
These promotional fees are applicable to wines that win gold medals and are automatically included in The Champions List - $NZ250 plus GST per wine.
Fees applicable to Trophy winning wines is $NZ595 plus GST per wine.
All entrants with wines included in the Champions List are required to provide free of charge for use at the Awards Event, The Champions List Tasting and for promotional purposes the following:
• 6 bottles of each gold & double gold medal winning wine
Entering a wine for judging in the New Zealand International Wine Show 2025 will be accepted as automatic acceptance of the promotional fees and conditions listed above.
The New Zealand International Wine Show is the largest wine competition held in New Zealand. The 2025 competition, our 21st year, will be presided under the Chairmanship of Bob Campbell MW, New Zealand’s most experienced senior wine judge and a leading wine educator. The senior judging team includes a number of leading winemakers and many key industry personnel. Most of the senior judges have each been involved in major wine competitions for more than two decades and bring a wide range of expert knowledge skill and consistency to the sampling and scoring of the awarded varietals.
Awards Event 2025
Friday 17 October 2025
6pm - 9:30pm
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Albert Street, Auckland CBD.
Cocktail Style - dress appropriately.
Judging Team
CHIEF JUDGE: Bob Campbell MW
ASSISTANT CHIEF JUDGES: Larry McKenna, John Hancock and Tony Bish.
SENIOR JUDGES included a number of leading winemakers and many key industry personnel. Most of the senior judges have each been involved in major wine competitions for more than a decade.
The champions List
Wines are entered into wine competitions to win medals. A gold, double gold, silver or bronze medal label on a bottle is unquestionably one of the easiest and most effective ways of promoting the qualities of a wine to the consumer. A medal can be used to promote a wine for the duration of that specific wine. Unlike a wine review that becomes dated or forgotten, a medal label has longevity.
The most important feature in the results from the New Zealand International Wine Show is The Champions List. The Champions List includes all the gold medal winning wines and of course the prestigious Trophies. All of the successful wines in The Champions List will benefit from nationwide exposure through trade publications, web results, tastings and emails circulated by key retailers.
Every gold medal wine will be listed in the Champions List. Trophy winners will be highlighted with a detailed description on the NZIWS website, along with lists of all the medal winners. Fine wine retailers and entrants will be able to access and use the descriptions free of charge.
Competition Stewards
At this stage applications to steward at the 2025 NZIWS aren't required. Should we need to we will advertise for them accordingly, watch this space.
Note: Entrants will not be sent judging class labels. These will be applied at the competition venue by the organisers.
Conditions of entry Schedule & classes Information sheet
