Wine auction set to sparkle

RED-LETTER DAY: Martin Poppelwell and Dick Frizzell's Study for a Rough Red is raising money for the Cranford Hospice.

This year's 20th Midlands Hawke's Bay Charity Wine Auction will be staged for the first time at Te Awanga's Elephant Hill Winery - accompanied by a candlelit dinner, fine wine and art.

Since the auctions began, more than $2 million has been raised for Cranford Hospice, and organisers say this year's June 4 event looks set to be a memorable one.

Hawke's Bay Winegrowers executive officer Lyn Bevin said winemakers were planning to offer special lots, including rare library wines and barrel lots, to mark the occasion.

A special 20th anniversary artwork, with an appropriate wine theme, looks set to be one of the sought-after lots at the auction.

Nationally acclaimed artists and Hawke's Bay residents, Dick Frizzell and Martin Poppelwell, have combined their talents to create a piece titled Study for a Rough Red.

More than 300 people are expected to attend the auction and three-course dinner.

Elephant Hill executive chef Ashley Jones said he was excited at the opportunity to prepare the special dinner.

"We are planning a very special event - it will be truly memorable," Mr Jones said.

"The setting is perfect and we are delighted that the anniversary celebrations are taking place here.

The event atmosphere is always wonderful and combined with our winery design and architecture I can't think of anything better."

The fundraising celebrations will start on Friday, June 3, with a Hot Red Hawke's Bay event being staged for the first time in the region at the Black Barn Bistro.

Hot Red Hawke's Bay is the country's biggest regional wine expo and is traditionally held in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Australia.

On the dinner and auction Saturday, a pre-auction Winemakers Tasting Event, featuring tastings of the wines for auction, will be held between 2pm and 5pm at Elephant Hill.

Napier MP and auctioneer Chris Tremain will again conduct the auction.