Hawke’s Bay Chardonnays hitting the top spots

Hawke’s Bay Chardonnays hitting the top spots

Accolades are flowing for Hawke’s Bay’s Chardonnays with makers of this white wine varietal winning favour in numerous competitions and prestigious tastings held around the world of late.

Most recently, Hawke’s Bay featured strongly at the International Chardonnay Challenge announced in Gisborne at the end of May, and in the Top Ten and Best Buys listings in Cuisine magazine’s 2009 Chardonnay competition released last month.

The region also received a back handed compliment from one of world’s leading Bordeaux enologists and former owner of Chateau Cos D’Estournel, Bruno Prats, who told  Masterclass attendees in London last month that his latest vineyard in Chile was developed after extensive research and analysis to find a site that most approximated the climatic conditions of Hawke’s Bay, such was his respect for the quality of our local wines.

John Buck from Te Mata Estate Winery said that to hear one of the most elite and respected members of the international wine community make such an assertion in a room filled with influential wine media and trade was “absolutely amazing.  He’s at the top of the tree.  His endorsement is the next best thing to a Royal Warrant.  It certainly made an impact.”

At the seventh annual International Chardonnay Challenge, four wines made from Hawke’s Bay fruit (wines need to be 85 percent from our region to be labelled “Hawke’s Bay”) featured in the Recommended Top Six Selection.  Of the seven New Zealand gold medal winners, four were from Hawke’s Bay, while of the 32 silver medals awarded nationwide, 12 were for local wines.

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