Hawke's Bay wines have picked up 26 gold medals at this year's Air New Zealand Wine Awards and as expected made a big impact in three of the region's most acclaimed varieties.
In the Champion Syrah class all five gold medals awarded went the Bay's way with Alpha Domus, Mission Estate (2), Te Awa and Villa Maria scoring.
That "full house" was echoed by the Champion Merlot, Cabernet and Blends with all six golds scored by Hawke's Bay wineries - Church Road (2), Crossroads, Saint Clair, Te Awa and Villa Maria.
The Champion Exhibition Red Wine class also saw plenty of golden applause go the Bay's way, taking five of the 10 golds through Abbey Cellars, Church Road, Matua Estate, Mission Estate and Villa Maria.
There were also plenty of accolades in Champion Chardonnay with Bay wines ticking off five of the 11 golds through Clearview Estate, Coopers Creek, Leveret Estate, Trinity Hill and Villa Maria coming through.