International sommeliers excited by HB Syrah and Chardonnay

Four internationally renowned wine sommeliers have been in Hawke’s Bay this week to deepen their knowledge of local wines, and all have left with surprise finds to add to the lists of the hotels, restaurants and wine bars they buy for.

Three Australian sommeliers visited the region together, Andrew Phillpot, from the Press Club in Melbourne, Patrick White of Otto Ristorante, Sydney and Matt Swieboda, co-owner of Sydney wine bar, Love, Tilly Devine. They were followed by Ronan Sayburn, Master Sommelier and director of wines and spirits for the Hotel du Vin Group of 14 luxury boutique hotels in United Kingdom.

All four were given a regional tasting presentation by Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc., and visited a number of wineries.

It was the Australians first visit to the region and all were impressed and surprised at some of what they discovered here. In particular, they enthused over the white wines of the region, with the delicate citrus minerality of Chardonnays impressing them.

ENDS

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