Chardonnay dominates Hawke's Bay wine awards - again

Alwyn Corban has been inducted into the Hawke's Bay Wine Growers' Hall of Fame. Photo File

Chardonnay has been declared Hawke's Bay's top wine for the third consecutive year.

Villa Maria Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2019 received three trophies — including Champion Wine of the Show — at the 20th Hawke's Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards on Thursday night.

Organisers said the win indicated the wine will "undoubtedly garner more recognition" both here and internationally.

General manager for Hawke's Bay A&P Society, Sally Jackson, said she was "thrilled" the industry packed out the Exhibition Hall at the Tomoana Showgrounds to celebrate the milestone.

She said the awards were the longest-running wine competition in New Zealand and existed to honour the talent in the winemaking sector, and to "showcase that talent to the world".

"Winemaking is key to the success of our region's primary sector and it's important to stop, take stock, reflect, and recognise excellence within this industry each year."

Event master of ceremonies Luke Bird said more than 360 wines were tasted by a team of 10 judges with chardonnay being the largest category of wine being judged in this year's competition.

Ant Mckenzie led the judging team. With 25 years in the wine industry around the world, he was "blown away" by the calibre of entries in the competition.

He said this year the awards attracted the largest number of entries since 2017.

"We have had stellar vintages for the past three years and this was clearly evident throughout the judging process."

Winner of the Hawke's Bay Wine Growers Hall of Fame was Alwyn Corban, who is the fourth generation of his family to make wine.

Organisers said he had developed a "legacy of service to the industry, innovative wine making, generosity of spirit and steadfast commitment to the community".

Winners.

Champion Wine of Show: Villa Maria Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2019
Hawke's Bay Wine Growers Hall of Fame: Alwyn Corban
New World Champion Commercial Red Wine: Church Road McDonald Series Syrah 2019
Vintech Pacific Wine Technologies Champion Commercial White Wine: Clearview Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2019
Outstanding Wine of Provenance Award: Clearview Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2009, 2013, 2019
NZ Frost Fans Champion Export Wine: Villa Maria Private Bin Hawkes Bay Rosé 2020
Wineworks Sparkling Wine: Church Road Blanc De Blanc 2016
Hawke's Bay Wine Co Sauvignon/Semillon: Church Road Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Somerset Smith Partners Pinot Gris: Esk Valley Hawke's Bay Pinot Gris 2020
Connec+ Rose: Villa Maria Private Bin Hawke's Bay Rose 2020
Jenny Nilsson House of Travel HB Cellar Door of the Year: Elephant Hill
Bay Mazda Hawke's Bay Premium White Varietals: Quarter Acre Viognier 2018
ATI Engineering Chardonnay: Villa Maria Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2019
Moore Markhams Red Blends, Merlot Dominant: Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
No.9 Red Blends Cabernet Sauvignon Dominant: Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett 2018
Fluidex Transport Ltd Syrah: Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Hawke's Bay Syrah 2019
Great Things Grow Here Other Premium Red Varietals and Blends: Beach House Cabernet Franc 2019
Hurford Parker Insurance Sweet Wine: Sileni Exceptional Vintage Pourriture Noble 2019
EIT Student Wine: Jordan Tilton-Mist
Hawkes Bay A&P Society & Craggy Range Young Vintners Scholarship: Jordyn Harper