New World Wine Awards 2025
Find a delicious and budget-friendly wine for any occasion with ease.
Shop the Top 50
Expert judges have swirled, sniffed, sipped, tasted and debated over 1,000 different wines to find the Top 50 wines under $30*, and now New World has made them available for you to share and enjoy. At the judging, all wines were tasted blind (this means the judges were never aware of any brands and never saw any bottles) and each wine was assessed using the internationally recognised 100-point system. The 50 highest-ranked wines are then sold through New World stores nationwide.
A glimpse into the three-day judging event
Elite Judging Panel
Judges are led by Chair Jen Parr & Deputy Chair Murray Cook – internationally recognised and respected winemakers, based in Aotearoa.
Blind Tasting Excellence
Over 1,000 wines tased over three days. Wines are judged blind – no labels, no bias. Scored using the internationally respected 100-point system.
Sensory Masterclass
Judges swirl, sniff, sip and score each wine. Evaluated to a high standard for aroma, flavour, balance, and value.
Hidden Gems Uncovered
The most outstanding wines make the cut including gold medal winners from prestigious global competitions.
Refined & Celebrated
Final winners are revisited for refined tasting notes. Each wine is celebrated for its quality and character. Our Top 50 wines, ready for you to enjoy.
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Discover. Taste. Celebrate.
Whether you're looking to expand your palate or find your next favourite bottle, the New World Wine Awards are your invitation to explore the best of local and international wine.
This exciting three-day event brings together a diverse panel of experts -including winemakers, industry pros, and wine scientists- to blind taste and score wines purely on its variety, vintage, and country of origin. No labels. No price tags. Just the wine itself.
Using a rigorous and internationally recognized 100-point scoring system.
Wines are organized into flights for assessment. Judges individually score and discuss the wines, with gold medal winners undergoing further random tastings to determine the Top 50. The highest-ranked wine in each variety earns the title of Champion.
Gold medal winners determined.
Winning a Gold medal means a wine has been tasted and graded at least 19 times by 11 different judges, while Champion wines receive at least 36 tastings. There's even a unique opportunity for aspiring judges, like liquor managers and store owners, to train alongside the experts and contribute their opinions while learning the ropes.
It takes a village.
Behind the scenes, it takes a village to make it happen. Pallets upon pallets of wine, glasses and equipment are set up by a dedicated team of stewards. Each bottle is meticulously checked to ensure accuracy before tasting. It’s an engaging experience full of discussion and discovery among some of the country’s best winemakers!
Lead by our Chair and Deputy Chair:
Jen Parr, Chair
Jen Parr has extensive winemaking experience, including in the United States, France, South Africa, and Australia. She is the winemaker for Valli Vineyards and was named the 2020 Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine New Zealand.
Murray Cook, Deputy Chair
Murray brings more than two decades of wine industry experience, gathered everywhere from Australia’s Yarra Valley to France’s Champagne and Burgundy regions. He has been the winemaker at Dog Point since 2013. He and his wife Rachel also run their own label, Nous.
Judges: Jannine Rickards, Natalie Christensen, Stu Marfell, Terry Copeland, Sam Smail, Jane Cooper, Kate Bennett, Laura Hutchinson, Richard Painter, Simon Fell, Simon Nunns, Jackie Jubel, Alena Kamper, Callum Withington, Calum Jamieson, Heidi Brittenden, Karen Huston, Josh Lee, Krystal Palmer, Penelope Radburnd, Georgia Mehlhopt, Andrew Caraco and Richard Tollenaar.
Best wines of 2025
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*New World Wine Awards Top 50 wines are priced at $30 or less until 9 November 2025. After this time the retail price may vary. Top 50 award winning wines are available in New World stores nationwide, except those in Licensing Trust areas. Top 50 wines are available while stocks last.