Region's grapes win awards

The unique and rough Gimblett Gravels terrain, which is creating world-class, full-bodied red wines. Photo / Supplied

A brace of trophies and three gold medals at the recent Air New Zealand Wine Awards underlined the strength of one of the region's most unique spots for the creation of world-class red wines.

A "red wine hot spot" was how chairman of the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association Gordon Russell described the "gravels" district just west of Hastings.

The Beach House Syrah Hawke's Bay 2014 and Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot Hawke's Bay 2014 both picked up trophies while three gold medals went to merlot/cabernet and blends from the region.

The results cemented its position as New Zealand's top spot for "fuller bodied reds", Mr Russell said.

"It confirms what we have long felt - that the district can produce world quality class Bordeaux varieties and syrah - marking it as an outstanding terroir."

He said the latest accolades added to what had been a great year, with 16 trophies and 37 gold medals awarded to wines created from the fruit of the Gimblett Gravels in competitions so far.

"These accolades have confirmed all our hopes, and more," Mr Russell said, adding it was effectively a combination of the unique gravelly soils and the vision and commitment of the viticulturists and winemakers.

He said the gravels region was proving itself as a producer of fuller-bodies red wines and was fast becoming "the next big story in the world of wine". The district of just 800ha is home to around 30 vineyards and had once been dismissed by sheep farmers in the area as useless land. But its free-draining gravel soils and warm climate location had made it a near perfect place for top quality red wine production.