Wine ace to roll out new barrels

Paul Ham (left), Kate Galloway and Barry Riwai are confident an outstanding vintage is on the way at Alpha Domus. Photo / Supplied

After 10 years at Te Awanga's Clearview Winery, winemaker Barry Riwai has taken up a new role at Alpha Domus.

He fills the impressive winemaking shoes of Kate Galloway, who began at Alpha Domus in 2002 as a cellar hand before taking on the winemaking role three years later.

Ms Galloway said she was taking a break from winemaking and had been proud to be part of a team which made consistently high-quality wines in years that had been regarded as great vintages, as well as in "more challenging" years.

Mr Riwai, who moved to Hawke's Bay from Hamilton in 1997 to study viticulture at the EIT, said he was looking forward to being back in what is now known as the Bridge Pa Triangle, having worked in the region in the past.

"I'm looking forward to getting back to this side of Hawke's Bay - it is where all the action is with all the major wine brands in the area."

While he had proved to be a leading creator of fine chardonnays with Clearview, Mr Riwai said the Alpha Domus reputation for syrahs and red blends had been a major factor in making the move.

"I've got a good palate, backed by good knowledge of Hawke's Bay wine and an interest in the marketing side of wines," he said.

"I have some goals that I want to achieve, which I can do here with Alpha Domus."

The winery's managing director, Paul Ham, said the appointment would ensure the fine wines forged by Ms Galloway would continue to be made, as well as adding a new face to the promotion of the winery's products.

"Barry is well known as an excellent winemaker and as a wine judge," Mr Ham said.

"Our formula of creating consistently great wines doesn't change but we have the additional benefit of a new face, with Barry keen to also be more involved in marketing and promoting the brand around New Zealand and beyond."

Mr Ham said there was every indication another great vintage was on the way.

Clearview co-owner and co-founder Tim Turvey said he could understand Mr Riwai wanting to move on and praised what he had achieved at Clearview.

"He was here for 10 years but there was not much more he could have done - we are only a tiny winery," Mr Turvey said, adding he had no intentions of expanding.

He had picked up two new winemakers in preparation for the 2015 vintage and said he was delighted with the "new energy" they brought.

One, Matt Kirby, had arrived from the Clare Valley in South Australia - one of the major winemaking districts - and Rob Bregmen had arrived from Craggy Range.

Mr Bregmen won the Hawke's Bay A&P Society Young Vintners Scholarship in 2008.