HB vintners celebrating 30 years

In 1979, eight Hawke’s Bay wineries established the first regional vintner’s group, Hawke’s Bay Vintners. This year, its descendant organisation, Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc. has invited current members to celebrate 30 years of winemaking and related activities.

Fittingly, the celebration is being held at the Hawke’s Bay Club in Napier, where for 27 of the 30 years, there has been an annual Vintner’s Night of wine tasting for club members. This is to be held on Wednesday 4 November and over 16 wineries will be providing tastings of their wines.

As part of the evening’s celebrations, four men will be bestowed with life membership honours by HBWG: Alan Limmer; John Buck; Kevyn Moore and Alywn Corban. (Ed: details on each recipient below in background info.)

“These men are all very supportive of regional co-operation and marketing of Hawke’s Bay as a wine region and I’m sure endorse the views of those who established HB Vintners,” says Rod McDonald, Chair of HBWG. “In fact, John Buck (Te Mata Estate founder) was one of the men instrumental in establishing the HB Vintners back in 1979 and has worked consistently since to successfully gain international recognition for Hawke’s Bay wines.”

The relationship between the Club and the winemakers came about through a suggestion by the HB Vintners’ foundation secretary Ash Oldershaw, who was also a committee member of the Club. The eight founding wineries who first provided wines for tasting at the inaugural Vintners’ Night were Te Mata Estate Winery, Mission Estate Winery, Eskdale Wines, Vidal Wines, Glenvale Winery, Brookfields Winery, McWilliams Wines and Lombardi Wines.

The original committee members have all been invited to the event.

ENDS