Syrah win adds to Bay's reputation

Villa Maria senior winemaker Nick Picone. Photo / File

On the evening of October 20 there will be glasses raised to a special wine. It will be the wine adjudged to be the Champion Wine of Show; the best of the Bay; the top drop, as declared by the judges of the 15th Hawke's Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards.

The event is now an established part of the region's world-class wine industry and the nod as the Bay's best wine is eagerly sought after by winemakers, viticulturists, winery management - everyone on deck, so to speak. Leading up to the big night, where wines will be tasted and toasted and awards poured out, Hawke's Bay Today will profile the 14 Champion Wine of Show winners. Today we feature Villa Maria's winning drop.

Champion Wine of Show for 2008: Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah 2006

For Villa Maria, this was the first leg of what would be a Champion Wine of Show trifecta - the first of three such titles they would go on to pick up.

"Yes, we have enjoyed some pleasing results over the years," Villa Maria senior winemaker Nick Picone said.

It all came down to what he said was a consistency of factors - and among them was having a fine micro-climate and what Picone called a "sensational" vineyard site.

In the case of the winning syrah one of those sensational sites was the Gimblett Gravels.

The syrah fruit was sourced from several of its sites across the region, including the iconic gravels.

It came at a time when the Bay was building a global reputation for producing premium-class syrahs.

The free-draining soils and warm growing conditions led to deep-coloured and intensely flavoured red wines, which is what the judges that year saw and tasted.

Mr Picone said the Cellar Selection Syrah 2006 reflected the passion and motivation of the growing winemaking team.

The syrah sold out nationwide, and a small amount was exported at the time to Asia and the United Kingdom.

As well as the Bay's top accolade, it also picked up five gold medals at a string of wine awards shows as well as three five-star ratings with leading wine publications.

The win was especially pleasing for Mr Picone who had already been a long-term member of the Villa Maria crew at that stage - and this year he celebrated his 18th year with the company in fine fashion.

He was appointed chief winemaker for the whole group, with Villa Maria chief executive George Fistonich describing the 37-year-old as a "shining star" of the country's wine industry.