Last night was one of celebration for PaperWorks owner Annabel Sinclair Thomson, winemaker Tony Bish, Peter Cowley of Te Mata Estate, and organiser Annabel Tapley-Smith. Photo / Paul Taylor
Last night was one of celebration for PaperWorks owner Annabel Sinclair Thomson, winemaker Tony Bish, Peter Cowley of Te Mata Estate, and organiser Annabel Tapley-Smith. Photo / Paul Taylor
Sponsors were given a taste of what's in store at the annual Hawke's Bay Wine Auction last night.
Held at the PaperWorks Gallery Te Awanga, some of the event's 150 sponsors and supporters were given the opportunity to network, and get excited for the event in November.
Project organiser AnnabelTapley-Smith said not only was it important to show their contribution was valued, but organisers enjoyed being able to give something tangible back to their supporters.
To show the organisers' appreciation, sponsors were given the first glimpse of the 2016 artwork - "Painting for Grown-Ups - A Meditation Aid" by Gavin Chilcott. Ms Tapley-Smith said the artwork was something "pretty unique and special" for the event's 25th anniversary.
Some auction lots were also themed in celebration of the milestone, such as the Elephant Hill winery and restaurant which offered a 25-year membership of the newly-established Reserve Wine Club.
Forty specially blended wines produced by Hawke's Bay's finest winemakers will also be on offer at the auction, held in support of Cranford Hospice and supported by Hawke's Bay Today.
Coming off the back of a record year, with $141,000 made last year, Ms Tapley-Smith said, "we're hoping 2016 is going to be another record year, where we can make a lot of money for hospice."
