Te Awa winemaker claims top title at Royal Easter Show Wine Awards

Te Awa's winemaker Richard Painter has been named Winemaker of the Year. Photo Supplied

Te Awa's winemaker Richard Painter was named Winemaker of the Year at the 2018 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards dinner last night.

Mr Painter's Te Awa Single Estate Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2016 won Champion Chardonnay and scooped the sought-after Champion Wine of Show trophy, thereby securing him the coveted Winemaker of the Year title.

He said he was "honoured and proud" and cited the dedicated team and Te Awa site as the real heroes.

"The Te Awa Single Estate Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2016 is a classic expression of Hawkes Bay Chardonnay from a fantastic vintage. We are blessed with an exceptional site in the Gimblett Gravels and these awards are testament to the calibre of wines that can be produced in our unique part of the world."

The winemaker said Te Awa is a special estate and has produced fine wine for many years that display both finesse and a wonderful depth of flavour. "Couple that with an excellent team and you have a winning combination!"

This result follows recent success at the Hawke's Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards, where the Te Awa Single Estate Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 took out Champion Wine of Show.