From gravel to winning drop

Kingsley Estate's winemaker Kingsley Tobin in 2004.

On the evening of October 20, glasses will be raised to a special wine. It will be the wine adjudged to be the Champion Wine of Show; the best of the Bay; the top drop, as declared by the judges of the 15th Hawke's Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards. The event is now an established part of the region's world-class wine industry and the nod as the Bay's best wine is eagerly sought after by winemakers, viticulturists, winery management - everyone on deck, so to speak. Leading up to the big night, where wines will be tasted and toasted and awards poured out, Hawke's Bay Today will profile the 14 Champion Wine of Show winners. Today we feature Kingsley Estate Gimblett Gravels' winning drop.

Champion Wine of Show for 2002: Kingsley Estate Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2000

For Kingsley Tobin, who steered Kingsley Estate, this was a significant achievement.

"I could tell it was going to be good but to get the top award for it was great - very special."

What made it a groundbreaker was that it was organically produced, with Kingsley Estate being the only certified organic winemaker in Hawke's Bay at that time.

"Everything I did was organic and there were no shortcuts, no compromising."

He had started planting his vineyard in 1991 and in later years expanded into the Gimblett Gravels, with the first wines emerging in 1995 - and they drew plenty of praise such as that of the chairman of the judging panel in 2002, Steve Smith.

He described the Kingsley Estate merlot as "absolutely sensational".

Mr Kingsley said he had blended malbec into it, which like the organic touch, was pretty new for the times.

It was unfortunate that in 2005 the winery went into liquidation and he was now based in the South Island, and while he did have dealings within the wine world he was not involved in production.

He said the champion wine was made in "reasonable quantities" and had all sold out - but he did not have a bottle himself.

"But it would be nice to think someone out there has got one."

And if they did, he said it would still be very palatable.