Welcome to the Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine awards 2011.
The Inaugural awards were the brainchild of Max Morton (Executive Committee Member of the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society and Gavin Yortt (Owner Squawking Magpie Wines). In 2000 Max and Gavin came to the Society with their ideas, the Society agreed to host and sponsor this event which has grown considerably each year.
The Event is organised and event managed by the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society.
The committee is made up of Wine Industry and Hawke’s Bay A&P Society representatives.
This unique regional awards is the largest regional wine competition in New Zealand. Entries are only accepted from wineries with wine made from 85% Hawke’s Bay Grapes. Entries are received from over 90% of Hawke’s Bay Wineries which also includes multinational wine makers with vineyards in and out of Hawke’s Bay.
Mercedes-Benz has had the naming rights to the competition since its inception in 2001.
A sponsorship agreement is in place till 2013 with Mercedes-Benz NZ Ltd.
The Awards night was initially run as a Cocktail Party and moved to a formal Dinner in 2005. This is held in a spectacular silk lined marquee in the beautiful and historic Waikoko Gardens on the Tuesday night prior to the first day of the Hawke’s Bay Show, in October. The Dinner attracts a wide representation of everyone involved in the wine industry including wine lovers, wineries, winemakers, wholesalers and retailers as well as the supporting manufacturing, bottling, transport and technical providers. It is also seen as a significant event on the Hawke’s Bay social calendar and regularly enjoys patronage of 400 guests.
Significant support is given by Eastern Institute of Technology for the use of the EIT Sensory laboratory for Judging. Staff and Students studying Wine, Tourism & Hospitality and Culinary are all involved throughout this event, either by assisting with Judging, Set up / pack down, working in the Kitchen assisting the Chefs, or serving wine and food to 400.
Organisers: Hawke’s Bay A&P Society
Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds
Kenilworth Road
HASTINGS
COMPETITION DIRECTOR Tim Creagh
Eastern Institute of Technology
ASSISTANT COMPETITION DIRECTOR Nick Sage
CHAIRMAN OF JUDGES Rod McDonald, RM Wines Ltd
WINE ADVISORY PANEL Tim Turvey, Clearview Estate
Tony Bish, Sacred Hill Wines
John Hancock, Trinity Hill Wines
Nick Sage, EIT Wine School
Gavin Yortt, Squawking Magpie Wines
Hawke's Bay Wine Awards 
