February 13, 2004

John Hawkesby’s shirt to go under the Goldwater auction hammer for charity

Former television news reader John Hawkesby will have his shirt go under the hammer for charity at the Goldwater Wine art auction on Waiheke Island on February 26.

The former broadcaster is Master of Ceremonies at the auction and has gifted his shirt for the event where all the proceeds will go to the Waiheke Community Art Gallery and Te Huruhi Primary School.

The annual Evening in the Vineyard auction is being run by Goldwater Estate. Last year the event raised over $30,000. 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 and highly valued bottles of wine will go under the hammer.

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, Goldwater spokeswoman Gretchen Goldwater said today. ``As a result of our last auction, Te Huruhi Primary School now boasts a comprehensive music department. We will continue to provide solid support for the school.

``Our art gallery is making waves in the art world. The gallery is currently showing the Sculpture in the Gulf, described by Prime Minister Helen Clark as THE NZ sculpture exhibition.’’ she said. Ms Goldwater said they were in for a superb 20th vintage season and already received excellent feedback from recent vintages.

``We had a 4am phone call from France recently telling us that they had just drunk our Cab/Merlot and they said it was as good as any French wine. They were sorry to have woken us but they said they just had to tell us as the wine was so good.

``We were also Winery of the Year in US Wine and Spirits Magazine 2002 Wine Buying Guide and we have achieved the highest price achieved for any NZ wine at an International wine auction.’’ Next month Goldwater will celebrate its 20th vintage release with a celebrity dinner held on March 11 at the winery. The 20th release will be a numbered release with only 600 cases in special wooden cases including a letter from pioneer winemaker Kim Goldwater. The Waiheke wine industry was pioneered by Kim & 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’’.

ENDS

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