It meant consistency was the main player, and that pleased Mr Scott who parried away much of the acclaim and said in his eyes it was more an award for the whole winery.
"Winemaking at Church Road is a team effort," he said.
"Our vineyard team have an outstanding knowledge of the region and the individual vineyards, and deliver outstanding fruit year after year. The cellar team has a dedication to wine quality that far exceeds what anyone could hope for."
He said everyone at the winery was proud of what they created and said the award reflected the passion and commitment of the entire team.
In his role as chief winemaker he said the number one element to it all was trusting the palate.
He said the best advice he ever got was from a winemaker from Bordeaux who had come out to New Zealand to visit.
Someone asked the visiting winemaker about the science of making good wines - of obtaining the best possible pH readings.
"He said take the meter that measures the pH and throw it in the river - just ask yourself what does it taste like?"
Mr Scott started out by working during his summer holidays in the vineyards and cellar door, before joining Church Road as a cellar hand in 1998.
By 2005, he had worked his way up to Senior Winemaker.
Since then he has been the driving force behind Church Road TOM Chardonnay and Church Road TOM Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, which are widely regarded as two of New Zealand's most iconic wines.
As well as these traditional Hawke's Bay styles, he has also overseen the introduction of new wines to the range, including Rhone varieties Syrah and Viognier, and helped to evolve new wine varietals in Hawke's Bay including award-winning Marzemino and Sauvignon Gris.
Winestate Editor for New Zealand Michael Cooper said the winery had for decades produced some of Hawke's Bay's and New Zealand's greatest value wines.
"It also shines at the top end of the market, crafting some exceptional Chardonnays, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blancs, Syrahs and Cabernet/Merlot blends."
