This was the second ever joint New Zealand and Australia tasting, bringing together more than 1,000 wines from 240 producers. The line-up spanned 57 regions across Australia and New Zealand and covered 30 different grape varieties, offering a broad snapshot of what the two countries are doing right now.
New “Sommelier Selections” feature tables added a useful shortcut through the ubiquity, showcasing wines nominated by working sommeliers. There was also a notable contingent of producers actively looking for a route into the UK, with 130 new wines poured by wineries seeking distribution.
At the last tasting I went in search of the atypical and came away noting how dominant established imports were, without seeing quite so many labels openly seeking representation. This time I approached it differently, focusing more deliberately on those looking for UK distribution, with the aim of flushing out genuinely new names and new wines. It felt like a practical way to help producers and importers alike, and to find bottles that might appear on lists and shelves here.
These are the wines that most caught my eye:
Paddy Borthwick Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2025 13.0% £18.50
This is a minimal intervention Sauvignon Blanc made from a single vineyard in New Zealand. Pale lemon in colour, with classic aromas of gooseberry, lemon, cut grass and passionfruit. It is dry and high in acidity, bringing tropical and citrus flavours. The finish feels fuller in the mouth than most Sauvignon Blanc. Seeking representation.
Paddy Borthwick ‘Right Hand’ Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2021 13.5% £35.00
Another wine from Paddy Borthwick. Pale to medium ruby in colour, with aromas of plum, cherry and spice. The taste is of elegant red fruit with savoury complexity, in a light to medium-bodied style. It finishes silky, lovely, long and savoury. There is also a ‘Left Hand’ version from another Paddy Borthwick winemaker, which is lighter, more fruity and less savoury. Seeking representation.
Elephant Hill ‘Salome’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021 14.0% £50.00
A sommelier recommended Chardonnay from New Zealand. Medium lemon in colour, with ripe stone fruit aromas, subtle oak and a gentle nuttiness. Dry and generous, it combines rich stone fruit and citrus with pastry notes, plus soft acidity alongside spicy, flinty touches. The finish is creamy, rounded and nutty. Importer: Corney and Barrow.
Cloudy Bay ‘Te Koko’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 13.5% £50.00
A highly critic-praised New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Pale lemon in colour, with explosive aromas of gooseberry, passionfruit, red capsicum, cut grass and citrus. Light to medium-bodied, it is crisp with citrus and tropical flavours, supported by high acidity. The finish is pungent. Importer: Moët Hennessy UK.
Jansz Tasmania ‘Late Disgorged Vintage Cuvée’ Tasmania Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2012 12.0% £55.00
A Tasmanian sparkling wine that can easily compete with Champagnes and English sparkling wines. Aromas bring citrus, green apple and brioche, influenced by lees ageing. The taste is crisp citrus with autolytic complexity and the sweetness sits at medium. The finish is long and pristine. Importer: Fells.
Te Mata ‘Coleraine’ Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc 2023 13.5% £65.00
Another sommelier recommended wine, this time from New Zealand. It has deep aromatic intensity, with violets, roses and lavender alongside pure cassis. Blackcurrant and black cherry lead the flavour, with sweet cedar in support. Despite the depth, it feels light and delicate. Importer: Fells.
Prophet’s Rock ‘Cuvee Aux Antipodes’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 13.5% £55.40
A New Zealand Pinot Noir that felt like one of the best in the show, offering a Burgundian interpretation. Medium ruby in colour with some browning, and an intense scent of red cherry with a strongly savoury edge. Dry, with pure red fruit and fine tannins that are medium and silky. It finishes savoury, with a slight caramel warmth at the end. Importer: Jascots Wine Merchants.
Jayden Ong ‘The Hermit’ Yarra Valley Syrah 2018 13.5% £44.50
A Rhône-inspired style interpreted through an Australian lens, which is why it is labelled Syrah rather than Shiraz. It is atypical and striking. The aromas are intensely floral, led by violets, while the flavour is delicate yet intense with blueberry and impressive length. Tannins are only slight. Importer: Lea & Sandeman.
Levantine Hill ‘Katherine’s Paddock’ Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2021 12.5% POA
A highly critic-rated Chardonnay from Australia. It is blended from their three clonal plantings and matured in French oak. Aromas include pear, lime, papaya, coriander and oak. Yellow fruits come through on the tongue, with a slightly saline note, plus orange and ginger. The finish is long. Seeking representation.
Levantine Hill ‘Samantha’s Paddock Melange Traditionnel’ Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot Malbec 2019 12.5% POA
An amazing Yarra Valley blend from Australia. The aroma is oaky and smoky, with cassis, vanilla and cedar. It sits around medium-bodied but still feels full in the mouth. Blueberry and cranberry meet woody notes, and there are chocolate nuances too. Seeking representation.
Wren Estate ‘Hen’s Teeth Reserve’ Heathcote Marsanne 2019 13.5% POA
An Australian Marsanne from a winery named in the Top 10 New Wineries by James Halliday. The aroma is intensely apricot-led. The flavour is round and ripe with apricot at its core, and it carries a slightly sweet edge. It is long, full and intense. Seeking representation.
Esilio Wines ‘Into the Outer’ Mount Lofty Ranges Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 14.5% POA
Deep ruby in colour, with blackcurrant on the scent. It starts soft in the mouth, then turns rounder before a tannic kick arrives at the end. Flavours centre on cassis with a minty lift, and the structure is firm. Full-bodied overall. Seeking representation.
Thunderstone Porongurup Pinot Noir 2024 13.5% £36.00
A Pinot Noir that underlines how well Australia can also do the variety. Pale to medium ruby in colour, with intense aromas of red cherry and cranberry. Light to medium-bodied, it brings elegant red fruit with added complexity. Tannins are low to medium and fine. Seeking representation.
Yealands Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 12.5% £12.00
A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, tasted against the non-reserve Yealands and found to be better, even though I previously preferred the opposite. Pale lemon in colour, with gooseberry and passionfruit aromas. Light to medium-bodied, it has explosive aromatics and a crisp citrus-tropical flavour profile. The finish is zesty, pungent and intense. Importer: Bibendum Wine.
Greystone North Canterbury Waipara Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2024 13.5% POA
A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc made in a different style thanks to wild yeast and barrel fermentation, making it softer, more complex and more luxurious. It uses Loire clones with lower yields but stronger flavour. Ten months in oak has helped to soften the wine. Expect tropical fruit, citrus and minerality, with more of a pineapple character than usual. The taste is soft, creamy and long. Seeking representation.
I wasn’t paying close attention to pricing as I tasted, and it seems most of my picks naturally landed in a higher price bracket. The new Sommelier Selections self-pour table was a real positive, giving a different, more focused slice into the market and another perspective. It also made it possible to take in more wines quickly, which matters at an event of this scale. I only covered a small fraction of what was available, which I suppose leaves plenty for another pass next year. Next time, I may well set myself a brief of actively seek out more affordable finds.
