Red tops evening of black and white

en years of the Hawke's Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards was celebrated in spectacular style last night with a ceremony honouring the region's best wine producers.

With a black and white theme, the formal event was held in a marquee as well dressed as the guests. In black tie and evening dresses, the guests mingled on a sun-soaked lawn before heading inside to tables draped in black and white, underneath sparkling chandeliers.

The evening started with MC Frankie Stevens joined on stage by the Candy Lane Dancers for an energetic rendition of Prince's Kiss. The tone for the night was set, and while there was the serious business of handing out awards there was little doubt the evening was primarily a celebration of the stunning wines coming out of Hawke's Bay and how far they have progressed in the past decade.

Among the guests were some of the wine industry's most esteemed, including Master of Wine Jane Skilton and broadcaster turned wine writer John Hawkesby. The event was also attended by the region's best wine-making talent, among them trophy winners Church Rd, Trinity Hill, Villa Maria, Wild Rock and Esk Valley.

Chief judge Rod MacDonald said the judging panel tasted more than 350 wines and was struck by the quality winemaking of some of the smaller operators - among them central Hawke's Bay vineyard Lime Rock, which won best rose, Ohsawa, which won best pinot noir and Kerven Walker, which took best sauvignon blanc.

"A gold medal at the Hawke's Bay show has to stand up against a gold anywhere else in the world," Mr MacDonald said.

Also on the judging panel was Hawke's Bay Today writer Yvonne Lorkin who noted a real shift away from the big, "in your face" wines to "softer, elegant, more structured wines".

But what is wine without food, especially in the Bay. The menu was put together by a group of local chefs including Paolo Pancotti from Milk and Honey, Kerry MacKay from Clearview Estate and Te Awa's Francky Godhino.

Students from EIT had prepared a tasting plate for entree and did a stellar job serving and clearing tables.

Frankie and his dancers re-appeared throughout the night finishing up with a rousing rendition of our national anthem.

The big winner of the evening was Church Rd winery, with a virtual clean sweep of the major awards for Chris Scott and his team. Among its wins, Champion Wine of the Show for their 2009 syrah and Winery of the Year.Editorial, p6