Entry forms and fees must be received by the Competition Director International Chardonnay Challenge P O Box 353, Gisborne, New Zealand Tel: +64 021 276 5484 Fax:+64 6 867 1475 NO LATER THAN 26TH MARCH 2010
A. Objective of the Competition
The objective of the Competition is to promote excellence in the winemaking of the chardonnay grape variety. Entrants are expected to ensure that wines awarded trophies and medals are reasonably available for purchase by consumers. In the promotion of excellence in winemaking, the integrity of the wines shall be a primary purpose of the Competition.
B. Definition
Committee in these regulations means the directors of the International Chardonnay Challenge Company Limited. Entrant includes an individual winemaker, and in the case of a company includes the officers of that company and the winemaker/s employed by that company for the purposes of this Competition. Entries are wines entered in the Competition by an Entrant.
C. Conditions of Entry
1. The Competition is supported by the Committee and is structured so that its conduct is the responsibility of the Competition Director and the Chairman of Judges.
2. The Committee, Competition Director and the Chairman of Judges, or any of them shall jointly or severally administer the regulations to achieve the objectives of the Competition as they shall determine.
3. The Committee, the Competition Director and the Chairman of Judges may refuse to accept an entry to the Competition if in the opinion of any of them, acceptance of such entry may bring the industry into disrepute. In refusing to accept any such entry, none of them shall be obliged to furnish reasons for such refusal.
4. Any costs incurred in the investigation and/or analysis of the veracity of any entry shall be payable by the entrant.
5. The conditions of entry to apply to all categories:
(a) Entries do not have to be available for sale in New Zealand. (b) All entries must comply with all applicable legislative requirements relating to the composition and labelling of wine, including the Australia New Zealand Joint Food Standards Code, the Food Act 1981, the Food (Safety) Regulations 2002, the Wine Act 2003 and the Fair Trading Act 1986. (c) A wine may be entered in one class or sub-class only. (d) There shall be no limit on the number of entries, provided that each entry is a different wine, clearly and separately identifiable by label. (e) All wines comprising the entry shall represent a single homogeneous batch of wine originating at the time of bottling from the same source. (f) Commercial labels must strictly conform by name to the specific class schedule in which the wine is entered and include the year of vintage where specified in the Schedule of Classes. (g) Temporary typed labels may be used for entries when commercial labels are not available ie. temporary labels must clearly identify the “unique wine brand” to which the wine will be sold under and otherwise comply with the above requirements (ie. variety or wine name, alcohol, volume, name and address statements etc).
6. The conditions of entry to apply to all entries is:
(a) Entries are restricted to commercially bottled wines (ie. tank or barrel samples are not permitted). (b) Entries will be eligible for awards and trophies. Results will be published in respective industry publications and on the websites mentioned under the Commercial category of each class or sub-class and may be used for publicity by entrants.
7. The committee has the right to move classification of the wine to other classes.
D. Schedule of Classes
Class 1 Oaked Chardonnay (Light and Full Bodied Styles) For elegant styles of Chardonnay. Divided into four sub-classes: (a) Current vintage (b) One year old (2009) (c) Two years old (2008) (d) Older (2007 and earlier)
Class 2 Unoaked Chardonnay For the other elegant styles of chardonnay. Divided into four sub-classes: (a) Current vintage (b) One year old (2009) (c) Two years old (2008) (d) Older (2007 and earlier)
Class 3 Methode Traditionelle Chardonnay Must contain 50% Chardonnay minimum Divided into four sub-classes: (a) Vintaged (b) Non Vintaged (NV)
Class 4 Dessert Chardonnay Must contain 50% Chardonnay minimum Divided into four sub-classes: (a) Current Vintage (b) One year old (2009) (c) Two years old (2008) (d) Older (2007 and earlier)
Class 5 Freestyle Chardonnay Blends with other white varietals. Must contain Chardonnay Divided into four sub-classes: (a) Current Vintage (b) One year old (2009) (c) Two years old (2008) (d) Older (2007 and earlier)
E. Entry Procedure and Fees
1. (a) The fee for each entry will be...
NZD $95 (inc GST) Including freight by Courier Post (New Zealand only)
(b) Class 1, 2, 3, 5 - equivalent to four (4) 750ml bottles shall be provided for each entry (c) Class 4 - equivalent to six (6) 350ml bottles shall be provided for each entry
Please note 2 bottles are required for judging, 2 bottles are required for Public Tasting
2. All Categories (a) Completed entry forms (including an acknowledgement of these regulations) and entry fees payable to the International Chardonnay Challenge should reach the Committee not later than Friday 26 March 2010. Any entries received after the entry deadline will incur a late entry fee of $30.00 (inclusive of GST) per late entry. (b) Class 1, 2, 3, 5 - equivalent to four (4) 750ml bottles shall be provided for each entry (c) The official labels will be attached to the front of each bottle above the commercial label on arrival to the store. (d) All capsules must be removed from the bottles. (e) The bottles must be delivered to Gisborne (carton label will be sent with address of entry delivery) in cases marked with the exhibitor's name and entry code/s no later than 4.00pm on Friday 7th May 2010. (f) All entries become the property of the Committee. (g) Bottles where screw cap seal has been broken will be withdrawn.
F. Awards
1. All entries will be judged blind in XL5 tasting glasses in flights of up to 50 wines, the Chairman of Judges will select the panel, each panel leader and assign the classes to the panels.
2. Scoring
Each judge will use the 20 point scale where: Colour and Clarity : Maximum 3 points Aroma and Bouquet : Maximum 7 points Taste and General Impression : Maximum 10 points
Associate Judges scores will not be used in awarding medals.
The points of each panel of three judges shall be totalled after each flight and awards made in respect of all wines in the Commercial and Limited categories attaining the following points: Gold Award Certificate : 55.5 points or more Silver Award Certificate : Between 51.0 and 55.0 points Bronze Award Certificate : Between 46.5 and 50.5 points
Special conditions
Trophy selection is based upon the criteria of each individual award as detailed below and in most cases the highest scoring gold wine will be the winner. Trophy judging will be conducted where no clear winner from the class emerges. The trophy judging will involve a fresh bottle or bottles and all judges. The selection of eligible wines for the regional awards is the responsibility of the Chief Steward using information on the label. No responsibility is taken for regional wines missed due to ambiguous labelling eg East coast, where all wine could be from one NZ island. If a class goes over several panels then the final selection for the top gold winner will be tasted off together. The high silver wines may also be included in this taste off at the Chairman of Judges discretion. The Champion Wine of the Show will be selected from all gold awarded wines, tasted off with all judges present. The wines will be ranked from 1 – 6 (dependant on the number of gold wines) e.g 4 wines are ranked 1 - 4, with 1 being the best. The lowest sum of numbers wins. The chairman's vote will always be weighted in case of a tie.
3. The following trophies will be awarded (subject to change):
‘Champion Wine of the Show’ for the highest scoring gold wine judged across all classes - Sponsored by GisVin Limited
‘Reserve Wine of the Show’ for the second highest scoring gold wine judged across all classes - Sponsored by Westfalia.
Top International Chardonnay for the highest scoring gold International wine judged across all classes - Sponsored by SATO.
Top Regional Chardonnay North Island the highest scoring gold North Island wine judged across all classes - Sponsored by Flavour.
Top Regional Chardonnay South Island the highest scoring gold South Island wine judged across all classes - Sponsored by DrinksBiz.
Highest Awarded Wine Company will be calculated on the basis of 4 points for trophy, 3 points for gold, 2 points for silver and 1 point for bronze. The winner will be awarded on the highest total for wines entered under a common wine company, wine group or unique wine brand. - Sponsored by Crown Sheetmetals.
Best Value Wine under $15 will be awarded to the highest scoring gold or silver wine under $15 using the information supplied on the entry forms - Sponsored by Portside Hotel.
Recommended Top 6 selection will be chosen from gold or silver awarded wines across all classes by the chairman and represent wines that are easily available , good value and representative of the stylistic variation possible in Chardonnay. - Sponsored by Winetitles.
‘Bill Irwin Trophy’ for the highest scoring wine made from Gisborne fruit - Sponsored by Riversun
Sub Classes will be awarded with certificates only and will be awarded to the highest scoring wine across these specific classes.
Top Methode Traditionelle Chardonnay. Top Oaked Chardonnay. Top Unoaked Chardonnay. Top Dessert Chardonnay. Top Freestyle Chardonnay. Best Label Design. – sponsored by FLAVOUR
4. All awards will be subject to such chemical analysis as is appropriate as directed by either the Committee, the Competition Director or the Chairman of Judges or by any combination of them.
5. All awards shall be subject to verification of the compliance with the Conditions of Entry and any other regulation of the Competition. Any award in breach of these regulations will be disqualified and any medals, trophies or awards forfeited. The onus of proof in respect of any challenge to any such disqualification shall rest with the entrant.
6. All gold medal wines and any other wines selected by the Competition Director or the Chairman of Judges will be subject to official chemical analysis. Any entry found to be in breach of these conditions or the ANZFSA 1984 will be disqualified and any trophies or awards forfeited.
G. Disputes
1. The Competition will be organised and supervised by the Competition Director on behalf of the Committee and may be assisted by the Chairman of Judges. 2. The decision of the Committee, Competition Director or Chairman of Judges or any of them in the matter of any dispute or doubt arising from the interpretation of these Competition regulations or in the conduct of the Competition or in the checking and testing of quantities and/or analyses shall be final. 3. In the event of a complaint being received regarding the availability of Competition entries, proof of sale may be requested at the discretion of the Competition Director.
H. Publicity
1. In any advertising, promotion or publicity, an entrant may refer only to awards or trophies won by the entrant's wines and not (whether expressly or by implication) to the wines or Competition performance of any other entrant or entrants. 2. Awards won by associate companies (as defined by the Wine Institute's Constitution) may only be advertised, promoted or otherwise publicised separately under the name of the entrant specified on the entry form. 3. Any use of awards or trophies in advertising, promotional or publicity material must be accompanied by a statement of the actual awards and/or trophies won and the year or years in which they were won, and any awards or trophies illustrated must relate to the awards and/or trophies so described.
I. Penalties
1. Any misleading advertising, promotion or publicity, or infringement of these Competition regulations may be considered by the Committee either of its own volition or upon receipt of a complaint.
Please Note
Entry forms and fees must be received by the Competition Director International Chardonnay Challenge P O Box 353, Gisborne, New Zealand Tel: +64 021 276 5484 Fax:+64 6 867 1475 NO LATER THAN 26th MARCH 2010
