Lake Chalice makes Susie and Peter NZ Wines of the Year 2026 list; twice!

We were delighted to have not one but two wines recognised on the inaugural list of Susie & Peter New Zealand Wines of the Year!

Lake Chalice Plume Pinot Noir 2019 and The Raptor Sauvignon Blanc 2023 made the list, which requires a score of at least 93 points.

Scoring 94, our Pinot Noir was described as an example of the ageability of fine New World wines. “What we particularly love is this wine’s harmonious combination of earthy, gamey development and juicy, plump, succulent fruit,” the report said.

The Raptor Sauvignon Blanc 2023 scored 93 points, and was described as “a lesson in purity, crunch and precision.”

Lake Chalice Winemaker Chloe Gabrielsen works hard to produce wines that are worthy of acclaim, utilising meticulously handled fruit harvested at just the right time.

“We are so lucky to have some stunning vineyard sites here in Marlborough and we work hard to nurture the flavours they instill in our fruit. It’s always a pleasure to have our wines recognised among the best both here in New Zealand and across the world,” she says.

“As Masters of Wine, Susie and Peter both know their stuff, and have tasted their share of wines from across the globe, including more than 200 in the running for this list; so to have two of our wines make the cut was a real delight.”

The Susie and Peter Wines of the Year Report features just over 100 wines, whittled down from 215 following a three-day tasting. It was released in conjunction with a podcast. Both the full report and the podcast can be found here: https://susieandpeter.com/podcast-episodes/season-seven/new-zealand-wines-of-the-year-2026