Church Road Winery's winemaker Chris Scott has picked up a leading Australian magazine's New Zealand Winemaker of the Year title for the second time in four years - but he was more delighted with the magazines' second nod to Church Road.
"It is nice to get but what is more satisfying is that we took the Winestate Syrah/Shiraz of the Year Trophy," Mr Scott said.
"It is the first time that title has gone to a New Zealand wine."
Syrah/Shiraz had previously been the domain of Australian producers until the magazine's judges tasted and lauded the Church Road McDonald Series Syrah 2014 which they decreed was "stunning".
Mr Scott said it was pretty well the equivalent of an Australian winemaker taking one of New Zealand's sauvignon blanc trophies.
"So it is pretty significant - we are very happy with that."
The McDonald Series Syrah 2014 was also judged as the New Zealand Wine of the Year.
Mr Scott, who has been senior winemaker since 2005 after starting as a cellar hand in 1998, said it was "nice" to pick up the winemaker title but described it as a collective award for everyone at the winery.
"We have a fantastic tight-knit team in Hawke's Bay in both our vineyards and the winery, all of who contribute greatly to the success of Church Road," he said.
"This award is very much a reflection of our collective skills, passion, knowledge and experience, and I very happily accept this on behalf of them all."
He said the combination of a stable and long-serving crew who loved what they did (the shortest serving cellarhand started in 2005) and extensive advances in vineyard work over the past decade was the perfect mix for creating award winning wines.
Winestate is Australia's leading wine industry publication and gives the award to the winemaker who achieves the highest overall score from 10 different wines they had worked on, and which had been judged by the magazine throughout the year.
"It is about good consistency across the varieties and we aim for that - whatever we make has to deliver."
He said he was passionate about creating fine chardonnays and red blends and has been the driving force behind Church Road TOM Chardonnay and Church Road TOM Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, which are widely regarded as two of New Zealand's most iconic wines.
His most recent addition to the top of the ultra premium range was the inaugural TOM Syrah 2013.
Looking toward next year's vintage Mr Scott said the signs were good at this early stage.
"It's all on track - we've had no frost pressure this year and we've had a wet spring so everything is growing like mad," he said.
"And the weather we're getting right now - I hope that can stick around."