Last night Hawke's Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards organisers greeted about 70 members of the region's wine industry and outlined how they hoped to use the awards to promote and celebrate local wines.
In a final gathering before entries for the 2013 competition close, Hawke's Bay A&P chairman Brent Linn said the evening, held at Vidal Winery Restaurant in Hastings, was aimed at outlining the objectives of the competition and why it was so important for the region.
"There are three things the competition wants to do; identify, promote and celebrate wine in Hawke's Bay.
"These awards are for the benefit of the wine industry and why regional wine competitions are so important for the Hawke's Bay industry and the Hawke's Bay region."
It was also the last chance for organisers to speak to industry members before entries for the 2013 wine awards competition closed on September 13.