Winestate Highlights:
- Chris Scott wins New Zealand Winemaker of the Year for the fifth time
- Church Road 1 Terraces Chardonnay 2021 wins Chardonnay of the Year – NZ and AU
- Church Road 1 Terraces Chardonnay 2021 wins New Zealand Wine of the Year
- Church Road 1 Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2020 wins Merlot of the Year – NZ and AU
- Pernod Ricard Winemakers NZ wins New Zealand Wine Company of the Year
Hawke’s Bay winery, Church Road has achieved excellence at the annual Winestate Wine of the Year Awards with Chief Winemaker, Chris Scott, crowned New Zealand Winemaker of the Year for a record fifth time.
Scott said of the wins: “It’s a real honour to win Winemaker of the Year for a fifth time – wow! This award is as much for the team here at Church Road as it is for me. We have such a huge amount of skill, experience and dedication amongst the Church Road family and an incredible fruit resource from some of the very best vineyards in Hawke’s Bay. It is a bit of a dream really, to do what we do and we’re lucky to be able to do it in such a beautiful part of the world.”
As an unprecedented five-time winner of Winestate New Zealand Winemaker of the Year (2013, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022), Scott represents the culmination of 125 years of winemaking excellence at Church Road that showcases the natural expression of some of Hawke’s Bay’s most prized grapes and vineyards.
To add to the celebrations, undoubtedly one of the most awarded Chardonnays of the year, Church Road 1 Terraces Chardonnay 2021 was awarded both Winestate Chardonnay of the Year across Australia and New Zealand, and New Zealand Wine of the Year, while Church Road 1 Merlot 2020 won Merlot of the Year.
Church Road 1 Terraces Chardonnay 2021 is sourced from the Terraces Vineyard, an old river terrace on the western bank of Tuki Tuki River, sheltered from the south by Te Mata Peak but exposed to the cooling sea breeze. This site produces full, yet fragrant Chardonnay with a spine of minerality. The Church Road 1 Merlot 2020 is sourced from the Gimblett Vineyard, in the famed Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district. This warm gravel soil typically produces darkly fruited structural wines that respond well to cellaring.
Church Road 1 is a story of provenance. The single vineyard offering showcases the unique character of the best vineyards from some of the best sub-regions in Hawke’s Bay, including the famed Bridge Pa Triangle, Tuki Tuki and Gimblett Gravels districts. Church Road Winemakers take a back seat and allow the land to stamp its mark on the wine, so it reveals a true expression of place in every glass, every time.
Pernod Ricard Winemakers NZ, who owns Church Road, also won New Zealand Wine Company of the Year for the second year in a row.
Church Road is proud to be part of such a thriving New Zealand wine industry and looks forward to what 2023 brings.
About Church Road
One of New Zealand’s most accoladed wineries, 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, 2021 and now 2022, 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 available in leading retail, grocery, on-premise and online at churchroad.com.
