A CELEBRATION LIKE NO OTHER! Chardonnay declared the Champion Wine of the Show for the second consecutive year. The Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2018 received four trophies at the awards ceremony, marking the first time one wine has won multiple accolades in the 19-year history of the awards. Chairman of Judges Rod Easthope described the winning wine as having “power, intensity, rich fruit, yet tempered by balance and beguiling length of flavour.” He stated “this Chardonnay will grace the finest wine lists and cellars and will please the world’s most discerning palates. It is a new benchmark for all to aspire to.” Topping the charts in so many categories, Easthope noted that this Chardonnay will undoubtedly garner more recognition both here and internationally. General Manager for the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society, Sally Jackson, says she was thrilled the wine industry packed out the recently renovated Exhibition Hall at the Showgrounds to celebrate the winning wines being announced for 2019. Jackson noted that the longest running regional wine competition in New Zealand exists both to honour the incredible talent in the winemaking sector, and to showcase that talent to the world. Winemaking is key to the success of our region’s primary sector and it’s important to stop, take stock, reflect, and recognise excellence within this industry each year.” Event master of ceremonies, comedian Urzila Carlson reported that over 320 wines were tasted by a team of 10 judges with Merlot Blends being the largest category of wine being judged this year’s competition. Winner of the Hawke’s Bay Wine Growers Hall of Fame was Dr Alan Limmer. Judge of the category, Bob Campbell stated Dr Alan Limmer has a reputation for taking on difficult challenges. Limmer saw the viticultural potential of a piece of bony land that others thought was only fit for dumping rubbish. Having a doctorate in soil science helped Limmer look beyond the barren, stony piece of land and imagining the flourishing viticultural oasis that it could become. That land, now known as Gimblett Gravels, has in no small way helped put Hawke’s Bay wine on the international wine map by producing wines that have won 600 gold medals and 210 trophies at local competitions and 105 gold medals and 35 trophies at international wine competitions. Official Results: Champion Wine of Show Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2018 Hawke’s Bay Wine Growers Hall of Fame Dr Alan Limmer Jenny Nilsson House of Travel HB Cellar Door of the Year Church Road Bay Mazda HB Champion Single Vineyard Trinity Hill Single Vineyard Prison Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 O-I New Zealand Champion Commercial Red Wine Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Vintech Pacific Wine Technologies Champion Commercial White Wine Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2018 Gemco Outstanding Wine of Provenance Award Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018/2013/2006 NZ Frost Fans Champion Export Wine Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2018 Wineworks Sparkling Wine Presentation Church Road Blanc De Blanc 2015 Hawkes Bay A&P Society Young Vintners Scholarship Ben Fulton EIT Best Student Wine Devin Marshall, Michael Ledingham, Ash Sale – SOD Malbec 2018 Hawke’s Bay Wine Co Sauvignon/Semillon Church Road Sauvignon Blanc 2019 Somerset Smith Partners Pinot Gris Junction Pastime Pinot Gris 2018 Connec+ Rose Haha Hawke’s Bay Rose 2019 Moore Markhams Pinot Noir Sileni Estates Grand Reserve Plateau Pinot Noir 2018 Kauri NZ Ltd Premium White Varietals Brookfield Vineyards Barrique Fermented Viognier 2018 ATI Engineering Chardonnay Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2018 Logan Stone Red Blends, Merlot Dominant Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Merlot 2018 No.9 Red Blends Cabernet Sauvignon Dominant Saint Clair James Sinclair Cabernet-Merlot 2018 Fluidex Transport Ltd Syrah Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2018 Great Things Grow Here Other Premium Red Varietals and Blends Church Road 1 Malbec 2017 Hurford Parker Insurance Sweet Wine Askerne Noble Semillon 2017