WINE GETTING
WHERE BLAND?
ARE MAORI?
Maori leaders are pleading
A Kiwi wine judge for the 39th Sydney
International Wine Competition has
with State Owned Enterprises
raised concern that Australian and New
to appoint more Maori experts
Zealand wine styles are becoming less
onto boards governing sectors
distinctive in a more open world of wine. Chair
– including food and beverage
of judges Warren Gibson says that concern has
- after the revelation that only
been expressed at the event, but it’s not an easy
six of 77 across the board
question to answer. “I feel there is a refinement
are indigenous and none are
and freshening of wine styles globally that also
chairpeople. Maori Council
helps to create a sense of place and regionality
executive director Matthew
in the wines,” he says. New Zealand wineries
Tukaki says it is no wonder that
have once again shown how special they are
Maori are not making progress
at the competition – which attracted 1800 wine
around social and economic
entrants - by clinching most successful winery
futures when they are not even
and the two most successful wines. Yealands
sitting at the table, and there
Wine Group took out nine medals and trophies
is no development strategy of
for its wines, while Saint Clair Family Estate was
encouraging Maori to apply. “This
second, with eight medals and trophies. The
is an absolute indictment to those
most successful individual wines were also from
State Owned Enterprises that
New Zealand – Brancott Estate Letter Series O
like to tick a Maori box, have a
Chardonnay 2017 and Akaura – RUA Pinot Noir
Kaumata turn up for a karakia and
2017. Australian wines once again dominated the
a cup of tea and then wave them
chardonnay and medium/fuller bodied red wine
good bye as they then get down
categories and New Zealand continued to rule
to business – so not only are we
the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir categories,
locked out of the boardroom,
but there were also honours for wineries from
we are then excluded from the
decision-making process around
things that will largely impact us
either socially or economically.
We have an immense talent pool
of Maori out there doing amazing
things. We have senior executives
within the business community
both here and overseas, we
have incredible, innovative and
entrepreneurial thinkers and
leaders, we have those with an
immense amount of valuable
professional and lived experience
– how do we know that? Because
Maori Council is constantly
recommending our people and
putting them forward.” Tukaki
says the council has formed a
national committee encouraging
access to industry and
employment, and is hoping the
SOE sector will take up the call to
appoint more Maori - particularly
women.
a number of other countries including France,
Portugal and Georgia. In all, 241 ‘top 100’, ‘blue
gold’ and ‘gold’ medals, along with 25 trophies,
were awarded to wineries in 11 countries. The
Sydney International Wine Competition is unique in
being the only international wine show that judges
all its finalists in combination with appropriate food
– meaning that consumers can select wines that
are best suited to accompany specific meals, from
BBQs to formal dinners. New Zealand winners are:
Yealands Wine Group (most successful winery,
best dry white table wine); Akarua (best wine, best
red table wine, best pinot noir); Brancott Estate
(best white table wine, best fuller bodied dry white
table wine); Marlborough Wine/Toi Wines (best
semi-sweet white wine); Waipara Hills (best still
rose). www.top100wines.com
128 ANNUAL DIRECTORY 2019
/www.top100wines.com
