That's 307 wines ... Now who's won Hawke's Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards?

Rod Easthope is in his second year as chairman of judges at this year's Hawke's Bay's A&P Bayleys Wine Awards. Photo / Warren Buckland

It sounds like a bit of a mouthful, but it was all over and done with last night as judges had assessed all 307 wines entered in the Hawke's Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards.

The two days of tasting took place at the Sensory Laboratory at the EIT in Taradale and judges last night gathered at a function before the 18th annual awards.

They will be presented at a dinner in Showgrounds Hawke's Bay Tomoana's Waikoko Gardens on October 16, before Royal New Zealand Show over the following days.

A&P general manager Sally Jackson said 38 wineries were represented, with entries also from 20 mainly EIT students, highlighting the EIT's support for the wine industry in Hawke's Bay.

Judges' chairman Rod Easthope, owner of Easthope Family Winegrowers, said that of all the shows at which he has judged the Hawke's Bay awards are the most exciting.

"The sheer diversity of wines from our vast region of differing soils and micro-climates make for two full days of fascinating evaluation," he said.

'In the past, local winemakers dominated the panels," he said. "However the trend in recent years is to utilise a greater diversity of wine experience, whether that be geographical or vocational.

"Having a balance of technical palates alongside commentators, who often have more contemporary knowledge of what works in the market, is now critical to achieve relevant results."

Last year the Te Awa Single Estate Gimblett Gravels Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 took out Champion Wine of Show.