News

Hawke’s Bay award-winning winery, Church Road has launched its 2023 Prestige Collection and to mark the annual occasion, is today unveiling the Church Road Art Initiative – a multiyear partnership with art gallery, MTG Hawke’s Bay to support a local artist’s career and add to the cultural vibrancy of the region.

Awarded every year to an emerging or mid-career NZ artist, the Church Road Art Initiative gives the recipient the opportunity to have their artwork displayed at the gallery as part of its permanent collection, as well as join the talent lineup of Semi Permanent Aotearoa as part of the Wellington-based creativity and design festival this November, giving an on-stage talk about their artistic process.

Chief Winemaker at Church Road, Chris Scott said: “We are incredibly proud to be supporting the career of a young artist to further enable their own original expressions of artistry through the Church Road Art Initiative. We approach winemaking as equal parts science and art, requiring a detailed knowledge of the process and ingredients in addition to a creative approach that allows us to deliver something special.”

Following an extensive list of artists compiled against the selection criteria, the Church Road Art Initiative will be awarded following a collaborative judging process, with Chris Scott, Church Road’s Chief Winemaker joining Toni MacKinnon, MTG Hawke’s Bay Curator, and Becky Hemus, the Editor-in-Chief of New Zealand art magazine The Art Paper, in a round-table jury process.

Toni MacKinnon said: “MTG Hawkes Bay is totally thrilled to be partnering with Church Road on this exciting initiative. It is a great opportunity to propel the career of a young New Zealand artist and to continue building the Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust collection held on behalf of the region.”

Just as an artist’s process draws on creative expression, instinct, science, and materiality, so too does Church Road’s winemaking. This year’s Church Road vintage release sees two wines from the coveted TOM range, hailing from the most exceptional vintages, including Church Road TOM Syrah 2021 and TOM Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2020. Alongside these, and showcasing the unique terroir of Church Road’s very best sites, the Church Road 1 Single Vineyard collection includes the Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 right through to the Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2022.

“These wines are the culmination of vintage, environment and the collective skill and knowledge of 126 years of winemaking at Church Road,” Chris added. “We are particularly excited to release our TOM range, which hail from two of the most exceptional red vintages I have ever worked on. Coupled with continued refinement of our winegrowing and winemaking, these are, I believe, the best wines we have ever made. And to mark this achievement, the TOM Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot will be offered in both 750ml and Magnum format, presenting a unique opportunity for collectors.”

The 2023 collection is especially significant for Hawke’s Bay, as the region was this year recognised as the 12th Great Wine Capital of the World, joining the ranks alongside Bordeaux and Rioja, thanks to its unique diversity of soils and microclimates that produce a myriad of outstanding wine styles.

All wines from the TOM and Church Road 1 ranges are available at select retail stores, on-premise, and online at www.church-road.com.

Church Road Prestige Collection

The Church Road 2023 Prestige Collection includes the below wines. Complete tasting notes for all the wines can be found here.

About Church Road

Church Road is renowned for being the first in New Zealand to craft exceptional quality Bordeaux style red wine and pioneered the Hawke’s Bay wine industry.

Founded in 1897 on the same site that it stands today, we believe excellence stems from mastering the details and knowing when to trust your instinct. Church Road wines are meticulously crafted to achieve quality of the highest standard and use fruit from the best vineyards across New Zealand’s North Island.

Chris Scott, Church Road’s Chief Winemaker since 2005, is also one of New Zealand’s most highly acclaimed, having been awarded New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by Winestate Magazine in 2013, 2016, 2020 and 2021; New Zealand International Wine Show Winemaker of the Year 2017 and Royal Easter Show Wine Awards Winemaker of the Year 2020.

Church Road is committed to sustainable practices and is accredited under the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) scheme. Church Road is a trademark of Pernod Ricard Winemakers New Zealand Limited.

For more information, head to www.church-road.com.

Please enjoy  Church Road wines responsibly.