The Hawkes Bay A and P Wine Awards have kicked off and have judges very impressed.
Marking the 20th year of the awards, despite the Covid-19 crises, the longest-running regional awards have attracted 310 entries, the biggest since 2017.
It took the judges two days to sniff and taste their way through the entries and the winners will be announced at an awards dinner at the Hawkes Bay Showgrounds on October 15.
Judging team leader, Ant McKenzie, who has had 25 years experience in the wine industry, said he was “blown away” by the calibre of the entries this year.
“We have had stellar vintages for the past three years and this was clearly evident throughout the judging process completed so far,” McKenzie said after the first day of judging.
