Did you know that New Zealand has a winery ranking that is updated every year?
The rankings are published by a team called The Real Review , led by one of New Zealand's most prominent wine writers, Bob Campbell MW (Masters of Wine) .
The winery rankings published by The Real Review are well-known in the New Zealand wine industry, and some consumers use these rankings as a reference when purchasing wine.
In this article, we will introduce Bob Campbell MW, a leading figure in the New Zealand wine industry, The Real Review, and the 2022 rankings announced in July this year.
The top spot in this year's ranking was taken by a winery run by a Japanese winemaker. Be sure to check out the rankings!
Who is Bob Campbell MW?
Bob Campbell MW is the second person in New Zealand to pass the Master of Wine exam, the world's most difficult wine examination. There are currently only 417 people in the world with this qualification.
▶︎Learn more about the Master of Wine here
He is a well-known wine writer in NZ and a leading NZ wine educator.
To date, he has held wine lectures and seminars in various parts of the world, including in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and London, with a total of more than 22,000 participants.
Bob Campbell was also a recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2019 for his contributions to the wine industry. The Order of Merit was established by Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand in 1996 and is an honorary award bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated meritorious and outstanding effort, ability and contribution in any area to the Crown and the people of New Zealand.
Bob Campbell continues to serve as a judge for national and international wine awards and is a regular contributor to wine and food publications.
I think it's safe to say that Bob Campbell is one of the most influential wine journalists in the New Zealand wine world.
What is The Real Review?
The Real Review is an international team led by Bob Campbell MW who taste, review and evaluate wines from Australia, New Zealand and the UK, assessing approximately 10,000 wines each year.
The winery evaluation involves tasting each winery's top five most recent wines and using a proprietary algorithm to determine and announce the rankings each year based on that evaluation.
In wine competitions, there are prizes that require an entry fee, but tastings at The Real Review are free of charge. Since there is no profit from the wineries, The Real Review is said to be "highly transparent" and "objective" in New Zealand.
▶︎ The Real Review Official Website
The Real Review 2022 Winery Rankings
Here we introduce this year's winery rankings.
| 1st place | Kusuda Wines |
|---|---|
| 2nd place | Destiny Bay Wines |
| 3rd place | Craggy Range |
| 4th place | Church Road |
| 5th place | Felton Road |
| 6th place | Bell Hill |
| 7th place | Te Mata Estate |
| 8th place | Dry River Wines |
| 9th place | Neudorf Vineyards |
| 10th place | Ata Rangi |
The first place winner was Kusuda Wines , run by Japanese winemaker Hiroyuki Kusuda!
We are very proud that a winery made by a Japanese producer is at the top of the New Zealand winery rankings!
Now, let me introduce you to Kusuda Wines.
Kusuda Wines
Image source: Kusuda Wines official website
Hiroyuki Kusuda was the first Japanese person to start making wine in New Zealand.
Born in 1964, Kusuda worked for Fujitsu after graduating from university, then joined the Consulate General of Japan in Sydney. However, influenced by his older brother who loves wine, he decided to become a winemaker at the age of 30.
He then moved to Germany to study viticulture and enology at Geisenheim University, and in 2001 he moved to Martinborough with his family to complete his dissertation at the invitation of Kai Schubert (Schubert Wines), who was also studying at the university.
In October of the same year, without any vineyards or facilities, he established "KUSUDA WINES" . At first, he was fumbling around trying everything. He was fortunate to be able to rent a small plot of land of about 2 hectares, and released his first vintage in 2002.
Currently, Mr. Kusuda owns 3.8 hectares of land where he grows Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Riesling. At Kusuda Wines, he does not employ any staff and is responsible for winemaking and winery operations almost entirely by himself.
Kusuda-san's favorite grape is Pinot Noir, and his long-held dream was to "produce the world's best Pinot Noir." Nearly 20 years have passed since he moved to New Zealand, and now that dream is becoming a reality.
Kusuda Wines' Pinot Noir has received a 93+ rating from Wine Advocate magazine, founded by the world's most renowned wine critic, Robert Parker, and has now become a rare wine that is traded at extremely high prices around the world.
▶ Kusuda Wines official website
*Kusuda Wines' wines are not currently available at Bokumo Wine.
Which wineries are in the top 10 that you can buy from Bokumo Wine?
Here we introduce wines from wineries ranked within the top 10 by The Real Review that are available for purchase at Bokumo Wine.
5th: Felton Road
Felton Road is one of NZ's top wineries.
The Pinot Noir first released in 1997 quickly captivated wine fans around the world, and the winery has become one of the most highly acclaimed in the world.
They make wine using a more natural approach, including biodynamic grape cultivation and "gravity flow," which moves grapes and wine without defying gravity.
When I actually had the opportunity to visit the winery, I was surprised at how compact yet functional the system was. I was impressed by the fact that they wanted to ferment the grapes with as little stress as possible.
▶︎Purchase here
9. Neudorf Vineyards
Neudorf Vineyards is a family-owned winery located in the sun-drenched Nelson region.
Founded in 1978, the winery is known for the extremely high reputation of its Chardonnay, having won first place in the Chardonnay category at the World's Best Wine Tasting, run by the British magazine Wine.
This is a representative winery in Nelson. It is also known as one of the first wineries to adopt sustainable farming methods.
▶︎Purchase here
10th Atalangi
Founded in 1980, Ata Rangi means 'a new beginning' in Maori.
Known as a pioneer of Martinborough, it is praised by many critics as being in the top five wineries in New Zealand.
In particular, the Pinot Noir produced from vineyards that "have their roots in Romanée-Conti" has won numerous awards both in Japan and abroad.
It is said that the success of Atarangi is what made the Martinborough region known around the world. It produces elegant, high-quality wines that are close to those of Burgundy.
▶︎Purchase here
summary
Wine is a drink that cannot be objectively judged as good or bad. However, when drinking a wine for the first time, it is natural to be curious about how experts evaluate it.
The Real Review, led by Bob Campbell MW, is known as a well-known and influential team among New Zealand wine tasters, and many people in the industry check the winery rankings that are published every year.
Of course, just because a winery has a high ranking doesn't mean that its wines will suit your taste, but this ranking will give you an idea of how professionals who are knowledgeable about New Zealand wines evaluate them.
