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A dozen Hawke’s Bay wines will become the first ever New Zealand wines to be available for tastings at the world-famous Cité Du Vin, the cultural venue dedicated to wine in Bordeaux, France.
The opportunity, which is a result of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network AGM in Lausanne in 2023, will showcase Hawke’s Bay wine to the more than 400,000 wine lovers a year from 180 different countries, who visit the prestigious wine museum.
The wines being showcased include:
• Tony Bish Heartwood Chardonnay 2022
• Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2021
• Church Road 1 Tuki Tuki Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
• Church Road Tom Syrah 2021
• Church Road Tom Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2020
• Te Mata Estate Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc 2022
• Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernets/Merlot 2022
• Craggy Range Syrah Gimblett Gravels Vineyard 2021
• Craggy Range Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels Vineyard 2021
• Craggy Range Chardonnay Kidnappers Vineyard 2022
• Smith & Sheth CRU Heretaunga Chardonnay 2021
• Smith & Sheth Heretaunga Syrah 2020
The wines will be available at the Belvedere, a panoramic space set 35 metres in the air with 360 views of Bordeaux. Visitors of the Permanent exhibition at Cité du Vin can afterwards taste from a selection of wines of the world, and that now includes Hawke’s Bay.
They will also be proposed within tasting workshops.
The opportunity will begin from September and is the result of the Hawke’s Bay Great Wine Capitals delegation meeting with Florence Maffrand, the Cité du Vin Head of Wine Partnerships and International Patronage at the Great Wine Capitals AGM in Lausanne last year.
“We are so pleased to complete the representation of major wine countries with New Zealand and to welcome Hawke’s Bay as our 52nd wine partner from all over the world. We will be very proud to present Hawke’s Bay wine culture among our tastings as part of the visit to the museum or tasting events,” says Florence.
The addition of Hawke’s Bay wine to the Cité du Vin tasting activities is invaluable for Hawke’s Bay wine, says Craggy Range global brand ambassador and domestic business manager David Peabody.
“The Cité du Vin is one of the top wine education centres in the world, with almost half a million people coming through its doors each year to learn and discover more about wine.
“Hawke’s Bay’s partnership with Cité du Vin means that our region will be many wine lovers’ first introduction to New Zealand wine, supercharged by talented staff focused on educating and informing.
“It also puts our region alongside many other world-class and historic appellations, allowing Hawke’s Bay an unparalleled opportunity to establish itself in the consciousness of the global wine consumer. Furthermore, sparking interest for those who discover us in Bordeaux, to visit our actual home, driving visitors to our region.”
Church Road chief winemaker Chris Scott says Great Wine Capitals accolade was a “fantastic testament to the collective achievements of our region’s winegrowers and winemakers”.
“The benefit of membership to this exclusive club cannot be underestimated for its ability to raise global awareness for Hawke’s Bay wines. And what better example of this than the recent invitation from Cité du Vin to showcase a selection of our region’s finest, alongside many of the world’s most highly regarded labels, to an audience of some of the world’s most engaged wine consumers.”
