Goldwater charity event on Saturday night

Imperial New Dog, finest artworks and John Hawkesby’s shirt up for auction at Goldwater charity event on Saturday night

Some of New Zealand’s finest artwork, the most expensive bottles of rare wine and John Hawkesby’s shirt will go under the hammer at the Goldwater charity auction on Waiheke Island on Saturday night.

The annual Evening in the Vineyard auction run by Goldwater Estate raised more than $30,000 last year. Probably the most sought after bottle of wine will be an imperial (six litre) bottle of Goldwater New Dog Marlborough sauvignon blanc 2003.

The New Dog is one of only two ever produced. It was named Champion wine at the 2005 Houston Rodeo International wine competition in Texas. The other imperial bottle will incidentally be auctioned at a gala dinner in Houston later this week. Last year, the Houston champion wine fetched $us47,000.

Wineries from around New Zealand have donated outstanding and rare bottles of wine for the auction. Last year a magnum of Felton Rd Pinot Noir sold for $1550.

A double magnum of Te Whau 2002 The Point and a magnum of Herzog 2003 pinot noir are among the most sought-after wines to be sold. An Imperial 1998 Coopers Creek Reserve Hawke’s Bay cabernet merlot, and six bottles of 20th vintage Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc 2004 should also fetch strong prices.

Thirty artworks by artists including Christine Boswyck, Peter Oxborough, Christine Cathie, Donna Hansen, Raewyn Atkinson, Gary Nash, Denis O'Connor, Barry Lett and Philip Luxton wine will also go under the hammer.

Nigel Scanlan’s sculptural work of marble and greenstone is expected to reach $6500, Goldwater spokeswoman Gretchen Goldwater said today.

``David Roy’s Peace work of bronze stainless and pumice work is estimated at $4500, and a Christine Cathie Greenwave cast glass work should reach a strong price too.

``A silent auction of wearable art and jewellery adds another flavour to the auction.’’

Former television newsreader John Hawkesby is Master of Ceremonies at the auction. He has gifted his shirt for the event where all the proceeds go to the Waiheke Community Art Gallery and Te Huruhi Primary School.

Goldwater will celebrate its 20th vintage release with a national celebrity dinner event at the winery on March 11.

The 20th release will be a numbered release with only 600 cases each in special wooden cases including a letter from pioneer winemaker Kim Goldwater.

The Waiheke wine industry was pioneered by Kim and Jeanette Goldwater in 1978 and is a major influence on the island’s economy these days.

Master of Wine Bob Campbell says Goldwater's wines are ``a remarkable testimony to a district that is with some justification hailed as New Zealand's best area for Bordeaux style reds’’.

© Scoop Media