Aussies take down Kiwis with wit over wines

Kim Crawford, LoveBlock Wines, Tony Bish, The Urban Winery, and Richard Painter, Te Awa Winery, made up the New Zealand team. Photo/Duncan Brown

Australia has taken down New Zealand in a witty war of words over wines.

The Aussies won the annual Colliers International Grape Debate at Te Awa Winery to raise money for the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter last night.

Comedian Jeremy Corbett moderated the debate in front of a sell out crowd of 300.

Kim Crawford of Loveblock Wines, Tony Bish of The Urban Winery, and Richard Painter of Te Awa Winery made up team New Zealand.

The Australia winners were Jane Ferrari of Yalumba, Gwyneth Olsen of Pepper Tree Wines and Alexia Roberts of Penny Hill Wines.

Organiser Bex Tacon said the debate was unbelievable and the Australians were clearly a crowd favourite despite New Zealand having the home advantage.

"They literally smashed it out of the park.

"Jane Ferrari, from the minute she got up she had the crowd."

While both teams were funny and made some good points during their argument over which country makes the best wines, the Australians were stronger, she said.

"It was a really, really good debate.

"The audience reaction was amazing, there were lots of laughs.

"It's always very entertaining especially with Jeremy Corbett at the helm."

The total tally of money raised for the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter from last night had not been calculated but would be on par with last year's $30,000, she said.

"Everyone left exceptionally happy, it was a really good night all round."

There was also an auction with the highlight being a set of two framed basketball singlets signed by Michael Jordan and LeBron James which went for about $7000.

Other items included a Rolling Stones signed guitar, a Bruce Springsteen signed guitar and a Pink microphone.

Last year a guitar signed by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr went for $14,000.

The Colliers International Grape Debates have been running for four years in Hawke's Bay, two years in Marlborough, and the event is expanding to Central Otago for the first time this year.

Since starting, the events have raised more than $70,000 for charities.