‘Spectacular buying’ as wine auction rolls out barrels
Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction committee member and founder of The Urban Winery, Tony Bish, is amped ahead of this year’s auction. He chats to
1 What are some of the more intriguing lots on offer at this year’s auction?
This year’s Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction has a tremendous range of offerings, from barrel lots to magnums, food and wine experiences, luxury accommodation in Vanuatu, and a spectacular sculpture by renowned artist David Trubridge.
All the wineries have put their best foot forward, and donated their top of the range wines, making for spectacular buying opportunities for the wine lovers out there. The generosity of the wineries is what provides the lifeblood for this event, and a browse through the auction catalogue reveals a stunning array of Hawke’s Bay’s finest Chardonnays, Syrah, red blends and other exotic offerings.
Some of the more intriguing are lots such as Te Awa’s quarter barrique of Tempranillo (Spanish red variety), Squawking Magpie’s collaboration of magnums and Martin Poppelwell artwork, the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Assemblage red blend (consisting of contributions from all the Gimblett Gravels wine producers), and the Patron’s Blend from Te Mata Estate, a Cabernet Franc.
2 The auction is a gift that keeps giving. To what do you attribute its enduring success and tenure?
Now in its 27th year, the auction has been a dedicated fundraiser for our beloved Cranford Hospice since its inception in 1991. Everyone living in Hawke’s Bay will experience the loss of a loved friend or family member, and the work that Cranford Hospice does to ease the burden at this most difficult time for both patients and family is utterly exceptional. This binds the community, the wine industry, and the business community in Hawke’s Bay together to create this enduring relationship. The sponsor group have also been most generous, and we owe a debt of gratitude to them all.
As mentioned, the fact that the wineries keep putting their very best wines forward has a lot to do with the on-going support of this unique auction.
3 Every year at the event there’s an appreciable absence of the industry’s cut and thrust, and instead a hiked collegiality between winemakers. It’s wine pared back to its best qualities. Do you agree?
Absolutely! We share in a common goal of raising as much funding as we can for Cranford Hospice, and enjoy the camaraderie of our related businesses. To see so much great wine under one roof is as totally amazing to the winemakers as it is to the bidders! Cranford Hospice is planning to build a brand new state-of-the-art palliative care facility on land donated at Chesterhope Station near Pakowhai, and for this we as a community need to really rally behind all the fund-raising events that are occurring this year and moving forwards to realise this ambition.
4 Over a year now since pushing play at the Urban Winery — how has it been received?
We have had an exciting first year at the Urban Winery! Visitors love the working winery aspect, the very visually stimulating egg fermenters we have, and the overall warm ambience of the visitor tasting area.
Our Saturday night live music gigs have been really well attended, and we love supporting our local musicians in this way. Tasty platters, great Hawke’s Bay wines, local craft beers, vinyl music playing — what’s not to like?
5 What does a metro-based winery offer that a rustic one doesn’t?
We offer a unique perspective of innovative winemaking, a very educational wine tasting experience, and visually interesting ambience. Our good friend and legendary photographer Richard Brimer’s work adorns our walls, with some stunning imagery from our recent trip to the heart of France, where the mighty oaks grow that are used to produce our French oak barrels.
From harvest, to splitting, seasoning and coopering the barrels, we have a beautiful exhibition of the entire process. The combination of wine, music, art, and food in the iconic art deco National Tobacco Building in the heart of Ahuriri makes for a compelling and totally unique cellar door visitor experience.