New Zealand has walked away with a matching pair of trophies from the International Wine Challenge ­ and neither of them is for Sauvignon Blanc. NZ claimed both the Chardonnay and the Bordeaux and Cabernet/ Merlot trophies. The Chardonnay winner was the Corbans Cottage Block 1997 distributed in the UK by Caxton Wines and sold exclusively in Waitrose. The other NZ winner was CJ Pask Reserve Merlot 1998 from Hawkes Bay which beat 1788 other Bordeaux blend wines. UK manager of the Wine Institute of New Zealand Katherine O'Callaghan said: "This should end any rumours New Zealand is not capable of producing top quality reds." Other successes for the New World included South Africa jointly winning the Burgundy and Pinot Noir Trophy. Bouchard Finlayson Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 1997 shared it with a Volnay Premier Cru Les Chevrets 1996 from J Boillot in Burgundy. Southcorp's Penfolds Winery was Red Winemaker of the Year. Germany won three trophies for Dry Riesling, Off-Dry Riesling and Late Harvest White categories. Sainsbury won Sparkling Wine of the Year for its own label Extra Dry Champagne produced by Duval Leroy. {{DRINKS }}

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