Hot Red team to warm up Oz

Hawke's Bay's wine industry is set to give the Aussies a fine taste of the region's best at a major exhibition to be staged in Sydney next month.

"I can guarantee we will have the most diverse selection of wines at the event," Hawke's Bay Winegrowers chief executive Lyn Bevin said.

Fourteen of the region's wineries will be showing and sharing their finest wines with more than 200 members of Sydney's hospitality industry at the inaugural New Zealand Winegrowers (NZWG) On-Premise Show on July 23.

The wineries make up the Hot Red Hawke's Bay team which paraded the Bay's top tipples at a show in Wellington last night, and will also go to Auckland.

The wineries have taken up the maximum numbers of tables to fill the biggest of four themed rooms that will make up the expo.

"Most of our Hawke's Bay winery exhibitors are taking advantage of the opportunity to show six wines from their winery and they haven't just selected the most commercial wines," Ms Bevin said.

"We are taking a selection of Hawke's Bay's best and most representative wines with a range of Hawke's Bay red blends, Chardonnay and syrah."

The event will give winery representatives the chance to discuss their varieties with influential decision makers across the Sydney region who are looking to discover new wines for their clientele.

It will be a return to Aussie shores for Hot Red Hawke's Bay.

Two years ago the region was represented at shows in Sydney as well as Melbourne.

"Our aim is to continue with the event in international markets, but due to the global financial crisis and more challenging times, we have not been able to secure sufficient levels of participation to go on our own.

"Being part of the NZWG programme allows us to present a regional story focusing on our wine strengths," Ms Bevin said. "Initial interest from the trade has been high and past attendees of the Sydney and Melbourne events are adamant they want us back."