Each year, thousands of wines from across the globe are entered into the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), one of the world’s most respected tasting events and often called the “Olympics of the drinks industry”.
Each wine is judged blind, with the judges not knowing who made it, where it came from, or what it costs. The only way they have to judge is by what’s in the glass and using their nose and palate. This year, Pask earned recognition on the world stage.
What is IWSC and why does it matter?
ISWC was founded in London in the late 60s, making it one of the oldest and most respected wine competitions. Wines are blind-tasted by an expert panel of Masters of Wine, sommeliers, and winemakers.
Wines are scored out of 100, with wines rated 90 or above considered classic examples of their style or variety. A wine awarded 90 - 94 points is an accomplished drink with considerable personality, character and complexity. A wine scoring 95-100 is an excellent drink with a great personality and stands out among its peers.
The soil makes the wine
The Gimblett Gravels is a unique winegrowing region. What sets it apart are its extraordinary soils of deep riverbed gravel. The gravels absorb heat during the day, creating a warm microclimate that allows red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah to ripen fully, something that is hard to achieve in New Zealand’s cooler climate. The result is wines with the structure and depth that are usually associated with France and South America.
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Gimblett Gravels Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec 2021 93 points
Our 2021 Gimblett Gravels Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec was awarded Silver at the 2026 IWSC Wine Awards. This wine is a great example of a New World wine that draws on French origins. Our Gimblett Gravels vineyard is well suited to producing great Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec, with free-draining shingle soil and warm, dry Hawke’s Bay summers, producing concentrated fruit that blends for both depth and freshness.
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If you love the structure of a bold red from the Gimblett Gravels, this is a wine to try. Available now in our online store.
