NZ & International Other Sparkling 2025
MARY-THÉRÈSE BLAIR explains why it would be remiss of us to ignore these underrated underdogs.
I’M GOING TO level with you – the judges really don’t enjoy assessing these wines. I sometimes think it’s akin to jury duty. You want to want to do it, and you do it because it’s the right thing to do, but mostly you would be happier if you could just avoid it altogether.
That said, our judges take these wines seriously and assess them very fairly as, in the wine world, they’re important. They’re fun, unpretentious wines that are affordable and widely available – things that can be major barriers to people enjoying wine. And this highlights their significance for an industry that is constantly complaining about why more people don’t drink wine.
So our judges gird their loins and do what they must so you can know which ones are worth your hard-earned money this summer. Remember these are for immediate enjoyment, not the cellar. So purchase, chill, imbibe with friends and repeat as necessary (responsibly).
