Farmer woes
Wairoa Mayor Craig Little says things are still not back to normal for farmers in his district and they are still suffering from problems caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Four Hawke’s Bay wine tourism operations have been celebrated in the inaugural Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism awards.
Judge Anna King Shahab praised the impressive calibre of entries, with “multiple strong contenders” in each category. The winners were:
The category winners will represent Hawke’s Bay at the Best Of Wine Tourism international awards at a gala dinner in Italy in October. Steve Smith MW, co-founder of Smith & Sheth, which opened its Oenothèque and Heretaunga Wine Studio in 2019, says the awards are a significant milestone, “demonstrating our commitment to excellence and innovation in our wine experiences”.
Anna described Smith & Sheth as “a master touch in crafting a wide range of experiences suited to all wine lovers. Its Oenothèque offers an array of opportunities to enjoy and learn about wine, from themed workshops to casual evenings in the wine lounge listening to live music.” She says there are some exceptional wine tourism operators in Hawke’s Bay, “which made our job very challenging”.
Wairarapa winemaker Jannine Rickards made a “tiny” batch of her own wine in 2017, on the moonlit edge of her…
Marlborough’s 2024 vintage was “a return to form for Marlborough summers”, says Astrolabe General Manager Libby Levett.
Collective data from more than 1,000 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc vineyards is helping grow understanding of the region's terroir.