After a career stretching back to when he was just 14, Tom McDonald was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1974 for his contribution to the New Zealand wine industry.
He retired in 1976 and died in 1987, leaving behind a legacy that remains a cornerstone of winemaking in this country.
As a personal tribute to him, Church Road Winery launched TOM from the 1995 vintage, as an exclusive range only produced in exceptional years.
Mr McDonald's complex Chardonnay and Bordeaux-styled varieties had gained him glowing accolades as well as the title "father" of red wine in New Zealand - and his influences are reflected in the new series.
"We are becoming more confident with traditional French winemaking and this new series was produced utilising some of these techniques," senior winemaker Chris Scott said.
"For example, for Chardonnay and some of the Sauvignon Blanc we allow spontaneous wild fermentation to occur, while reds are fermented in large oak cuves.
"Overall there is less intervention and we bottle the red wines with minimal fining and filtration.
"It's all about letting go of the reins and working with what nature provides."
Mr Scott said each vintage presented the winemaking team with different challenges which allowed them the opportunity to continue learning and evolving the wines.
"We are excited about the opportunity to introduce this new range and continue Tom's vision, combined with our own learnings, using traditional winemaking techniques with Hawke's Bay's vibrant fruit," he said.
The Church Road McDonald Series features five premium wines: a 2009 Merlot, a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, a 2011 Chardonnay and a 2009 Pinot Gris.
