REBECCA STEVENSON
Gunn Estate has blown away the competition at the Hawke's Bay A and P Mercedes Benz Wine Awards winning the Champion of Champions Wine and with Denis Gunn named Champion Winemaker.
The Ohiti Valley winery's Gunn Estate Skeetfield Chardonnay 2006 clinched the top prize at the awards dinner last night,
beating entries from other classes including current Hawke's Bay wine darling syrah.
Chief judge Tony Bish from Sacred Hill Wines said the chardonnay class was strong and exciting and the hat-trick of golds awarded were well deserved.
In other categories the judges were not so generous and Mr Bish made no apology, criticising entries in the newly created pinot gris class and pinot noir entrants. He said there were several reasons for wine awards - to give results but also to improve quality and provide an honest critique.
"We don't always get it right, but a lot of thought went into it - we tried our best," Mr Bish said.
He was more positive about other categories, identifying viognier as having a big future in Hawke's Bay and seeing syrah continuing to boost the local wine industry.
While a Hawke's Bay chardonnay reigned over the awards the reds still gathered a share of the accolades, Vidal Reserve Syrah 2005 taking the Reserve Champion Wine trophy.
Trinity Hill's John Hancock missed his winery winning five trophies, including the Museum Class for Trinity Hill Homage Chardonnay 2002, but chief winemaker Warren Gibson ably handled the speech duties - over and over again. The merlot dominant class, pinot noir, premium red varietals and blends and pinot gris also went to Trinity Hill.
Maarea Karetel won the EIT Best Student Wine trophy for her Entelechy Merlot 2006.
The wine industry is full of personalities and those friendly faces manning the frontline were rewarded too, Gideon Lizra from Askerne Estate claiming Cellar Door Personality of the Year.
Throughout the evening the 400-strong audience were reminded good wine is made on the vine - Jo McGonigal earning the Champion Viticulturalist award.
With an invitation from MC John Hawkesby to keep the night going at Vidal's the 2007 Hawke's Bay Wine Awards were over - until next year.
