The results of the 2018 Hawke’s Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards were announced at an awards dinner last night. The Champion Wine of the Show was the Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Keltern’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017, and the Reserve Wine of the Show went to the Villa Maria ‘Reserve’ Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016. The Villa Maria Group scooped the show winning 9 of the trophies awarded, continuing its wine show dominance, followed by Church Road with 6 trophies claimed.
New for this year was the Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers “Hall of Fame”, introduced to celebrate those who have demonstrated exemplary commitment, innovation and dedication to growing the Hawke’s Bay wine industry. The inaugural 2018 winner was John Buck, owner and founder of Te Mata Estate. The announcement was met with a standing ovation from the floor.
This is the 18th year of this regional wine competition, and it’s the type of wine judging that I endorse, as it focusses on the strengths of the region, and the work load is not very onerous, allowing for what I would perceive as more critical assessments made in the context of the aims of the growing district. This year, the judging was held over 24 and 25 September with Rod Easthope as Chairman of Judges leading the team including Natalie Christensen, Tim Creagh, Warren Gibson, Michael Henley, Ben Jones, Oliver Masters, Ant McKenzie, Lauren Swift and Sanne Witteveen.
The Numbers
In total there were 318 wines judged, yielding 31 (9.75%) gold medals, 76 (23.9%) silver and 114 (35.85%) bronzes, with a total of 221 (69.5%) wines winning a medal award. These figures are pretty much standard in most judgings, and indicates consistency of judging standards.The most successful category was Chardonnay with 8 gold medals awarded, followed by Syrah with 5 golds. The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon-Predominant classes both took 3 gold each, as did Other Red Varietals. There were no golds for Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, with one gold each for the Sweet Wine, Rosé and Sparkling classes. Again these results reflect the strengths (or not) of the Hawke’s Bay region, including the quality of the 2015 and 2016 vintages, and no doubt the difficult 2017 growing season.
The Trophy and Top Awards
Following are the top awards and trophies presented last night. A full list of all the medal winners should soon be available on www.showgroundshb.co.nz/hawkes-bay-wine-awards.php#results-awardsHawke’s Bay A & P Bayleys Wine Awards Champion Wine of the Show
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2017
Hawke’s Bay A & P Bayleys Wine Awards Reserve Champion Wine of the Show
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2016
Jenny Nillson House of Travel Hawke’s Bay Cellar Door
Trinity Hill
Trinity Hill
Logan Stone – Champion Merlot
Church Road McDonald Series Merlot 2015
Church Road McDonald Series Merlot 2015
No9 – Champion Red Blends Cabernet Sauvignon Dominant
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels “The Gimblett” 2016
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels “The Gimblett” 2016
Bay Mazda Hawke’s Bay – Champion Red Blends Merlot Dominant
Te Awa Single Estate Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Te Awa Single Estate Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Fluidex Transport Ltd – Champion Syrah
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2016
Moore Stephens Markham’s – Champion Pinot Noir
Best in Class: Sileni Estates Estate Selection Plateau Pinot Noir 2017
Best in Class: Sileni Estates Estate Selection Plateau Pinot Noir 2017
Great Things Grow Here – Champion Other Premium Red Varietals and Blends
Church Road 1 Malbec 2016
Church Road 1 Malbec 2016
ATI Engineering Ltd – Champion Chardonnay
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2017
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2017
Hawke’s Bay Wine Company – Champion Sauvignon Blanc and/or Semillon
Best in Class: Church Road Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Best in Class: Church Road Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Somerset Smith Partners – Champion Pinot Gris
Esk Valley Hawkes Bay Pinot Gris 2018
Esk Valley Hawkes Bay Pinot Gris 2018
Kauri NZ Ltd – Champion Premium White Varietals
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Braided Gravels Albariño 2017
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Braided Gravels Albariño 2017
Hurford Parker Insurance Brokers Ltd – Champion Sweet Wines
Leveret Reserve Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest Viognier 2016
Leveret Reserve Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest Viognier 2016
Langley Twigg – Champion Outstanding Wine of the Provenance Class
Sacred Hill Special Selection Riflemans Chardonnay 2016 – 2009 – 2006
Sacred Hill Special Selection Riflemans Chardonnay 2016 – 2009 – 2006
Connec+ – Champion Rosé
Esk Valley Hawkes Bay Rosé 2018
Esk Valley Hawkes Bay Rosé 2018
Wineworks HB – Champion Sparkling Wine
Church Road Blanc de Noir 2014
Church Road Blanc de Noir 2014
NZ Frost Fans – Champion Export Wine of the Show
Church Road McDonald Series Merlot 2015
Church Road McDonald Series Merlot 2015
Vintech Pacific Wine Technologies – Champion Commercial White or Rosé Wine
Esk Valley Hawkes Bay Rosé 2018
Esk Valley Hawkes Bay Rosé 2018
O-I New Zealand – Champion Commercial Red Wine
Church Road McDonald Series Merlot 2015
Church Road McDonald Series Merlot 2015
EIT – Best Student Wine
Sanne Witteveen Methode Rosé
Sanne Witteveen Methode Rosé
The Gold Medal Wines
Here is a list of the 31 gold medal wines from the 2018 Hawke’s Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards:
Merlot
Church Road McDonald Series Merlot 2015
Delta Merlot 2017
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot 2016
Church Road McDonald Series Merlot 2015
Delta Merlot 2017
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot 2016
Cabernet Sauvignon Dominant Red Blends
Church Road McDonald Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2016
Church Road McDonald Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2016
Merlot Dominant Red Blends
Church Road Grand Reserve Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Te Awa Single Estate Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Church Road Grand Reserve Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Te Awa Single Estate Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Syrah
Church Road 1 Syrah 2016
Sileni Estates Estate Selection Peak Syrah 2018
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2016
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016
Church Road 1 Syrah 2016
Sileni Estates Estate Selection Peak Syrah 2018
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2016
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016
Other Premium Red Varietals and Blends
Beach House Montepulciano 2015
Church Road 1 Malbec 2016
Church Road McDonald Series Tempranillo 2015
Beach House Montepulciano 2015
Church Road 1 Malbec 2016
Church Road McDonald Series Tempranillo 2015
Chardonnay
Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2017
Osawa Prestige Collection Chardonnay 2016
Pask Declaration Chardonnay 2016
Selaks Founders Chardonnay 2016
Te Awa Single Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2017
Osawa Prestige Collection Chardonnay 2016
Pask Declaration Chardonnay 2016
Selaks Founders Chardonnay 2016
Te Awa Single Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2016
Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Pinot Gris
Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018
Mills Reef Estate Pinot Gris 2017
Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018
Mills Reef Estate Pinot Gris 2017
Premium White Varietals
Clearview Coastal Gewurztraminer 2018
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Braided Gravels Hawke’s Bay Albarino 2017
Clearview Coastal Gewurztraminer 2018
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Braided Gravels Hawke’s Bay Albarino 2017
Sweet Whites
Leveret Reserve Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest Viognier 2016
Leveret Reserve Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest Viognier 2016
Rosé
Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018
Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018
Sparkling Wine
Church Road Blanc de Noir 2014
Church Road Blanc de Noir 2014
