Sell Out Crowd Guaranteed for Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction

Sell Out Crowd Guaranteed for Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction

It’s official – the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest and most prestigious wine auction has sold out! Project Organiser Annabel Tapley-Smith is delighted that the new look Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction event, now in its 24th year, has sold out of tickets which have been sent as far afield as Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. The November 14th event will be held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House Plaza and promises to raise the roof with auction lots radiating rarity, pedigree and personality.

“This incredible event celebrates and showcases our supremely-skilled winegrowers and what they bring to this industry,” says Tapley-Smith, “there are some truly unique auction lots this year, lots that you will never, ever get the opportunity to purchase again”.

Wine writer Yvonne Lorkin agrees “Looking at the line-up of wines donated for this year’s wine auction for the Cranford Hospice Foundation Trust, two things become very clear. The first was that these are no ordinary wines. Hawke’s Bay has experienced three exceptional vintages in a row, which is a super-rare occurrence, meaning there are jawdropping examples from 2013, 2014 and 2015 up for grabs. The second is that sure, there are wines here that’ll make successful bidders the envy of collectors the world over; but perhaps of greater magnitude is the realisation that just by bidding you’ll be helping give someone a better quality of life”.

The event underwent a rigourous overall at the beginning of the year under the guidance of strategic planner, Lucy Dobbs. Dobbs, together with a committee comprising of Tapley-Smith and wine industry heavy weights including, Alwyn Corban (Ngatarawa), Tony Bish (Sacred Hill), Kate Radburnd (Pask) and Peter Cowley (Te Mata) examined the event message, and how it could attract high net worth individuals to Hawke’s Bay to bid and consequently, give a much larger cheque to the Cranford Hospice Foundation Trust.

The fresh, new ‘Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction’ brand was developed by Max Parkes from Unit Design and Tapley-Smith has created a comprehensive Sponsor Partner Programme that has seen the key sponsors networking and connecting on a business level around this event. “As an iconic event for the region, it’s great to see the support shown to date and we expect it to only grow further. We look forward to renewing acquaintances during the event and are delighted to continue our support of the region” says Phil Williams of Forsyth Barr. Fellow sponsor Phil Teague of BNZ Partners Hawke’s Bay agrees “We are thrilled to be involved as a sponsor for this year's Hawke's Bay Wine Auction event. To be associated with such a generous group of sponsors is a privilege and knowing collectively we’re able to make a difference for Cranford Hospice is fantastic. The fact that ticket sales have been phenomenal underpins how many people’s lives are touched by the important service Cranford Hospice provides our community. Really, we see our sponsorship as an extension to our objective to be "Good With Money" by supporting Cranford Hospice and this event”.

“If you add to the mix a heap of supporting businesses, all offering their services and products to help keep the event costs down, that should ensure this event is sustainable for the future” says Tapley-Smith. “For example Carrie and Mike Reaney of MRD web developers in Napier donated a package valued at over $25,000 to build us a website and run the social media programme – such outstanding generosity is overwhelming really, and we are all very grateful”

And the new format is a clear winner. “Where else, for the nominal price of $35,would you get the opportunity to sample dozens of one-off auction wines with the actual winemakers, and then attend a fast and furious auction where you could very well end up the proud owner of something rare and special that will make all your friends green with jealousy?” asks Yvonne Lorkin “Nowhere else, but at this auction”.

Whilst tickets have sold out organisers are encouraging people to submit absentee bids, information about this via the website: www.hawkesbaywineauction.co.nz

ENDS

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