Ambience aplenty at Bay wineries

Clearview Estate's Tim Turvey is happy to "drop everything" to provide a tour of the spread.

CREATING a unique winery experience is an art - and an art those working in the wineries across Hawke's Bay are passionate about.

The region is a leading driver of the national wine industry, making a splash, nationally and internationally, as a great place to experience the colour, vigour and fine tastes of the sector.

As part of this year's Hawke's Bay Hospitality Awards, four wineries have made the final cut for the Goodtime Foods Outstanding Winery Experience section.

For Clearview Estate Winery co-founder and owner Tim Turvey, it's all about putting in the time and creating a point of difference, although he touched on a third ingredient - "making the visit special and, in our case, in a very Kiwi way".

The Te Awanga winery is distinctive for its "red shed" which once housed tractors. It is now the restaurant, front of house and winery domain.

"We do lots of tours here and I'm prepared to drop everything to take people for a look around the property," Mr Turvey said.

"We planted every tree ... except one ... and we planted the vines and built the tables and hammered in all the nails ... it's called kiwiness."

Creating a memorable experience during a visit was also top of the "must-do" list for Elephant Hill Winery.

The winery's design makes it stand out, and that was the intention of its creators, Reydan and Roger Weiss, who saw the beauty and potential of Te Awanga when visiting from Germany in 2001.

They blended a state-of-the-art winery with the traditional values of winemaking, and all nestled within 25 hectares of vineyards with plenty to see and experience.

Trinity Hill winery, near Hastings.

"It all comes from the top down," marketing and sales manager Vince Lebatt said.

"Everyone works to make this a special experience which is underlined by quality."

Like Elephant Hill and Clearview, Craggy Range is also a finalist in the two categories of Outstanding Winery Restaurant and Outstanding Winery Experience.

"We are delighted to once again be nominated in the categories," restaurant manager John Logan said.

He said Craggy Range, with its dining, wine club, cellar door, accommodation and special events across a spectacular landscape, had set out to create a unique dining and wining approach to highlight the Bay.

"It's great to be nominated alongside other notable Hawke's Bay wineries and we look forward to seeing the result at the end of this month."

Trinity Hill also embraces the Bay's picturesque landscape and has established award-winning gardens that has become a scenic spot for live music and food/wine events during our long summers.

For cellar door supervisor Cara Gittings, it is all about creating relationships with visitors.
"To provide the time and make them feel comfortable for however long they are here for."

While it was very much about the wine, it was also about staging colourful and diverse events as well as providing a relaxing picnic spot where a sip in the sun could be taken.

Founded by John Hancock, Trinity Hill has become a recognised destination for picnics with a special flavour, and the cellar door adds to the whole experience.