Wine auction raises $141k for hospice

Guests prepare to battle it out for the finest wine lots at the annual wine auction. Photo / Warren Buckland

Some spirited bidding at Saturday's 24th annual Hawke's Bay Wine Auction, held at the Hawke's Bay Opera House Plaza saw a whopping $141,000 raised to support Hawke's Bay's leading palliative care facility, the Cranford Hospice.

Wine lovers and connoisseurs enjoyed the rare opportunity to walk away with blends they will never to be able to buy off a shelf again.

The auction kicked off in front of a 450 strong crowd with Clearview Estate blend your own chardonnay or full bodied red quarter barrique (56 litres), going under the hammer for a whopping $7000.

Guests from all over New Zealand showed their generosity and taste for good wine, by opening their wallets, with stand-out lots including a 225 litre barrique from Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District selling for $9500 and a half barrique of 2014 Shotgun Chardonnay from Sacred Hills Rifleman's Vineyard which sold for $6300.

Renowned New Zealand artist Martin Poppelwell's Portland 2015 painting sold for a show-stopping $20,000 to a Hawke's Bay couple.

Event manager Annabel Tapley-Smith said the location of the Hawke's Bay Opera House Plaza and shutting off Hastings St were a huge success, with the Plaza and marquee combination allowing guests to flow between the tasting area and the auction platform.

"It is great to see the wineries have put thought and consideration into their auction lots, with many going back to offering larger barrel quantities, as this ultimately raises the bar and generates more funds for Cranford Hospice," Ms Tapley-Smith said.

Helen Blaxland, general manager Cranford Hospice, said she was once again overwhelmed by the support of the Hawke's Bay community.

"At Cranford we care for those dying and are so grateful to the living for helping fund our services. What a passionate community Hawke's Bay is," Ms Blaxland said.

The auction will celebrate its 25th year in 2016.