Black Barn summing up the essence of Hawke's Bay

From left: Francis de Jager, Kim Thorp, and Liv McGregor holding Hawke's Bay Tourism Awards. Photo / Duncan Brown

By Andrew Ashton.

A quarter century-worth of teamwork and dedication to ensuring visitors get the best experience possible has seen Black Barn Vineyards recognised three times over by the region's tourism industry.

Havelock-North-based Black Barn Vineyards not only took out the top "Supreme" Award at the annual Hawke's Bay Tourism Awards on Wednesday, but also the Accommodation Award in the large category and the Essence of Hawke's Bay Award.

Black Barn Vineyards events manager Francis de Jager said the team at Black Barn were "thrilled" with the recognition.

"The work that we put in started 25 years ago to be honest."

Since it was first started the vineyard has progressed from a single cottage into a popular wine, food and luxury accommodation destination with a growing reputation across New Zealand.

Black Barn and was an experience or destination that the owners Kim Thorp and Andy Coltart wanted to make sure started with the customer and then worked backwards, he said.

"I really think this recognition is an accumulation of the work of everyone involved. We have several different elements - the wine is a really important part, we have the luxury accommodation, the retreats, we have the kitchen store and the events and concerts as well.

"What we do here is a collective effort. It's the collective sum of all our parts that's the strength of Black Barn Vineyards. We all work incredibly close together.

"Every year, we are basically trying to do something better than we did the previous year and really everything we do is based around the people that are visiting us."

In awarding Black Barn the Essence of Hawke's Bay Award, judges said Black Barn had been "very far-sighted in their planning", and offered visitors everything they were looking for in a visit to the region.

"They really are the essence of Hawke's Bay - in a nutshell."