Wine award a recognition of quality

Winemaker Hugh Crichton in the Vidal winemaking "office". Photo / File

On the evening of October 20, glasses will be raised to a special wine. It will be the one 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 another of Vidal's winning drops.

Champion Wine of Show 2007: Vidal Reserve Syrah 2005

Getting the top nod in a "world class" region for winemaking was a huge thrill for winemaker Hugh Crichton and the whole crew at Vidal Estate in Hastings.

"To get recognition for quality is always a good thing no matter who you are and there's no question that Hawke's Bay has the climate, soils and viticultural winemaking know-how to produce world class wine," Mr Crichton said, adding that the focus of Vidal Estate was chardonnay and syrah.

"So to get recognition for these is brilliant."

Mr Crichton used the term "these", as six years later the Vidal chardonnay would get its time in the champion sun.

He echoed what other winemakers had said about the flow-on effect of the win, which was added to by the Reserve Syrah 2005 also picking up gold medals and five star awards.

"Highlighting quality has a positive effect on sales for us - and this was the case."

The syrah was accordingly pursued on the national markets as well as export markets.

He doubted there would be too many bottles of it still about.

"I have a few bottles tucked away - definitely worth putting some of the better Hawke's Bay wines away as they can age superbly."

While it made the top of the grade and was lauded as a superb syrah by wine writers at the time, the power and remarkable quality of the 2013 reds (after the vintage of the century) put it into perspective.

The vintage, along with the vine age and experience, gave the 2013 syrahs a stronger showing.