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Introducing Hawke's Bay Winegrowers

Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers is the central point of communication for the Hawke's Bay wine industry.

Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers was formed in August 2006 by the amalgamation of Hawke's Bay Winemakers and Hawke's Bay Grape Growers to provide the regional wine industry with a singular representative body.

We have a membership of over 70 wineries and 170 grape growers.  Our aim is to build a category for Hawke's Bay wine by supporting, coordinating and supplementing the activities of our members in achieving international recognition of Hawke's Bay as a fine wine region.

Hawke's Bay Winegrowers is the key vehicle for the promotion and marketing of Hawke’s Bay wine both domestically and internationally by collective winery activity.

Our Goals

Hawke’s Bay has a growing reputation as a producer of world class wines.  The further development of that reputation and the Hawke’s Bay wine industry will come with a cohesive and a co-operative approach of all the parties who produce and market Hawke’s Bay wines.

The organisation’s main activities are:

Regional Promotion and Marketing

Regional promotion and marketing is an important part of the organisation’s strategic plan.  The raising of the profile of the Brand Hawke’s Bay Wine in the increasingly competitive world wine market is considered to be critical to the long-term future of the industry.  Promotional activities take place regionally, nationally and internationally with this goal in mind. 

Wine trail map pads and brochures are produced for the regional consumer along with more targeted international trade material.  Regional events include the Midlands Mortgage Trust Hawke’s Bay Charity Wine Auction and the Harvest Hawke’s Bay Wine Festival .  National activity includes the Hot Red Hawke’s Bay Wine Expo aimed at trade, media and consumers.

International promotion currently takes the form of tailored regional tastings to trade and media visitors hosted within the region and further activity is reviewed annually.

Advocacy

This involves dealing with local and central government together with an interface with New Zealand Winegrowers.  To date much of the work in this area has involved District Plan Reviews and other Resource Management Act issues.  Considerable progress has recently been achieved in gaining acceptance from local authorities that wine is a vertically integrated industry.

Education

The development of Oenology, Viticulture, Marketing and Management skills are vital to the future of the Hawke’s Bay wine industry.  This ensures the organisation can assist in promoting, fostering, protecting and encouraging the production, processing, distribution, marketing and consumption of grapes and wine.  As part of the role of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc. information of value pertaining to the grape and wine industry will be communicated to members.  Hawke's Bay Winegrowers are part of liaison and working groups within The Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawke's Bay.

Research

Research at a regional level will be carried out to implement or foster research relating to the wine and grape industry in order to produce higher quality grapes and wine.  Previous research has been funded by Hawke’s Bay Grape Growers on beneficial insects, bird control, botrytis, bunch stem necrosis and canopy management to name a few of an extensive list of projects.  Hawke’s Bay Winemakers Ltd has contributed and assisted in some forms of cellar door research to date.  Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc. will also have input into research conducted on a national level by NZ Winegrowers Inc.  The Hawke's Bay Focus Vineyard Group is now administered by Hawke's Bay Winegrowers Inc as the regional research arm for the organisation.

Findings and reports from historical funded research can be accessed via the members area of the organisation's website www.winehawkesbay.co.nz and are free to download.  If you are unable to do so, please contact Hawke's Bay Winegrowers for a hard copy or copy on CD to be sent to you.

Publications

WINE Hawke’s Bay, the official magazine of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc. was officially launched in February 2008 with the publication of the inaugural issue.  The magazine features up-to-date industry worthy information tailored specifically for the Hawke’s Bay grape growing and wine making industry including: research projects, long-range weather reports, local award winners, grape growing information and more.

The magazine is not just of value to members and the advertisers, but also benefits and is of interest to researchers, students, wine drinkers and award winners - there is something in there for every area of interest.

There are a lot of important research projects, industry developments and local success stories that too often go without acknowledgment.  With so much growth and success happening in the Hawke’s Bay wine industry, locally, nationally and internationally that is worthy of sharing, WINE Hawke’s Bay provides a space to share it.

For more information about advertising or editorial contributions please email Dale Cowie or phone (06) 8750 393.

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