Wine auction set to draw crowd

More than 600 wine lovers are expected to pack into the Hawke’s Bay wine auction this Saturday.

The 27th annual event, at the Napier Conference Centre, boasts 43 auction lots of wines, winery meals and experiences, a travel package to Vanuatu and David Trubridge sculpture. It’s the region’s largest charity auction.

Event manager Elisha Milmine said there was something for everyone.

An additional auction lot which had just been announced was the Vintec Instant Wine Cellar, a 170-bottle single-zone/multi-temp wine cabinet, full of a collection of award-winning wines, Milmine said.

“Whether you’re a novice wine lover, enthusiastic collector or sophisticated enter- tainer this Vintec Instant Wine Cellar will have a place in your home.”

Milmine said there had been strong interest in Trubridge’s sculpture The Strands of Life.

“It is a stunning stainless steel structure which truly is mesmerising,” she said.

Sixty per cent of the guests are coming from outside Hawke's Bay and would be making the most of the weekend by going to wineries, staying in accommodation and enjoying the region.

This includes a group of media from across the country, brought in to attend the event and enjoy a two-day itinerary packed with plenty of local experiences.

Hawke’s Bay wine auction principal sponsor WineWorks spokesman Steve White said the generosity towards the event was “unquestionable”.

“People are more than happy to purchase some of the best wine in the country, while also contributing to Hospice.”

Preparations for the auction started at the end of the previous event and involved more than 80 local businesses, which pitched in to ensure all auction proceeds could be donated to Cranford Hospice.

The tasting of auction lot wines will begin at 1pm on Saturday accompanied by viewing of the sculpture and canapes by Dish Catering.

The auction will start at 2.45pm, run by auctioneer and Harcourts New Zealand CEO Chris Kennedy.

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