3 June 2010
Hawke’s Bay wine and Cranford: strengthening bonds
The commitment to Cranford Hospice by the Hawke’s Bay wine industry began 19 years ago and over that time it is not just the financial generosity that has grown; the relationship has become personal for the many grape growers and winery personnel involved.
With the 19th annual Midlands Hawke’s Bay Charity Wine Auction taking place at Church Road Winery this Saturday (5 June), Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc. executive officer Lyn Bevin, backgrounds the industry’s ongoing involvement that has seen over $2 million raised for the region’s only hospice.
Hawke’s Bay’s regional wine industry association with Cranford follows in good stead from other wine / hospice relationships around the world. Examples include the most famous Hospice de Beaune held in Burgundy each year, the Napa Valley Wine Auction, and the Winesong! Auction held in California.
The idea to emulate these events sprung from a casual conversation in the late 80s between local winemakers, Alan Limmer of Stonecroft, John Buck of Te Mata Estate, and Kate Radburnd of CJ Pask Winery. They believed there was a need for the regional wine industry to demonstrate its ability to be a contributing member of the community.
The decision to approach Libby Smales, the then director of Cranford Hospice, with the auction idea was further reinforced by the death of wine identity Jack Matheson to cancer only eight days from his diagnosis; Jack had spent his last days at Cranford Hospice.
‘Montana Jack’ as he was known, had been Montana’s sole South Island representative responsible for establishing its Marlborough vineyards, and had retired to Hawke’s Bay. He was the founding secretary of Hawke’s Bay Vintners Ltd, a forerunner to the current Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers organisation.
The first Charity Wine Auction was held in 1991 at the Hawke’s Bay Racing Centre on Saturday 2 November. There were 27 lots and 16 contributing wineries. Nineteen years later there are 40 lots and over 31 contributing wineries.
A tapestry entitled ‘Les Vendanges’ was bought by Ian Cadwallader and still hangs in the Cellar Door of his Riverside Wines today. A dinner for six by leading chef Vicki Bruns-Bolderson was another sought-after lot. Winery staff, including principals, served as wait staff.
Of the original 16 wineries, 12 are still contributing; Ngatarawa Wines, Te Mata Estate, Brookfields Vineyards, Crab Farm Winery, Church Road Winery, Esk Valley Estate, Vidal Wines, CJ Pask Winery, Stonecroft, Mission Estate Winery, Sacred Hill, and Corbans (now Pernod Ricard New Zealand).
A total of 16,416 litres has been contributed by these 12 wineries over the last 19 years (including 2010) and the total donated for their contributions alone reaches over $1 million ($1,016,490).
The highest price for a full 225 litre barrel was achieved by Mission Estate Winery with a $9,200 bid, and the highest price for a quarter barrique (56 litres) was achieved by CJ Pask Winery with a $10,000 bid.
The generosity of these wineries over the years has been impressive especially as not always do the wines reach the expected recommended retail prices (although some far exceed this).
Many of the wine lots offered are specially selected batches or made especially for the auction event. Most are not commercially available or likely to be anytime soon in any wine aficionado’s wine cellar.
In recent years wineries have had to pay the excise tax on the wines donated to the event as well as the bottling and labelling. Today, many wine lots are accompanied by commissioned art works or are decorated by renowned artists as well.
Four wineries have contributed the most wine and funds raised over the last 18 auction;
Church Road Winery 2250 litres $140,550
Ngatarawa Wines 3280 litres $132,900
Mission Estate Winery 2426 litres $107,105
CJ Pask Winery 1292 litres $105,475
Stonecroft 861 litres $105,170
In a per litre price comparison, five wineries head up the table;
Esk Valley 508 litres $124 per litre
Stonecroft 861 litres $122 per litre
CJ Pask Winery 1292 litres $82 per litre
Te Mata Estate Winery 1176 litres $77 per litre
Sacred Hill Winery 594 litres $77 per litre
In recent years both Esk Valley and Stonecroft wines have been auctioned as a memorial lot, achieving bids of $11,000 for 12 litres (Esk Valley) and $15,000 for 1.5 litres (Stonecroft). There are
a number of tribute and memorial lots in this year’s
auction remembering staunch industry supporters Bob Walch and Richard Weston, and young winemaker Doug Wisor, who was killed in an accident in 2004.
A quote from inaugural auction catalogue stated “Oceans may separate mankind, but wine unites them.” Anon. It goes on to state the two-fold purpose of the event was “to promote Hawke’s Bay wines and to strengthen our bonds with the community”. An enduring sentiment still evident as strongly held today as then.
The 2010 Midlands Hawke’s Bay Charity Wine Auction will be held at the Tom McDonald Cellar at church Road Winery from 3pm with a pre-auction tasting. The auction itself starts at 5pm and incorporates a three course dinner matched with local award-winning wines.
