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Church Road: from Bordeaux influence to New Zealand excellence

04 November 2024 By db staff writer

Located in one of the 12 Great Wine Capitals of the world, Hawke’s Bay winery Church Road showcases the diversity of wine coming out of this small part of New Zealand.

Church Road puts focus on bold reds

Hawke’s Bay, with its moderately cool maritime climate and gravel soils, shares similar characteristics with Bordeaux. The region, which also has the warmest and longest grape growing season of all wine regions in New Zealand, is the foundation of winegrowing for Church Road.

Founded in 1897 on the same site it stands today, Church Road is known for being among the first in New Zealand to craft Bordeaux style red wines.

The winery continues this tradition today, with its winemaking inspired by traditional French techniques. However chief winemaker Chris Scott and his team couple this with the winery’s unique winemaking philosophies and knowledge to refine and improve upon Church Road’s wines at every opportunity.

Its vineyards consist of diverse subregions with various micro-climates and 25 soil types similar to that of Bordeaux and an extended sunlit growing season. Just last year the region was also recognised as one of the 12 Great Wine Capitals of the World, joining the ranks of Bordeaux and Rioja.

Church Road’s wine portfolio, crafted by Scott and his winemaking team, continues to gain recognition. Church Road secured three Gold medals at this year’s Drinks Business Global Syrah Masters, where judge Patricia Stefanowicz commented: “There were also some outstanding wines tasted this year from New Zealand, specifically from Hawke’s Bay, near Napier on the North Island, where some examples from Church Road particularly stand out.”

Its Grand Reserve Syrah 2021 and Church Road 1 Syrah 2021 and 2022 vintages all took home Gold. the drinks business Asia also awarded the winery a Master medal at its Chardonnay Masters competition, highlighting the quality of New Zealand wines beyond classic Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir expressions.

While Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir still dominate the proportion of plantings in NZ today, grapes which produce bolder reds now claim a significant percentage of plantings, and Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec are in the country’s top 10 most planted varieties.

Chief winemaker Chris Scott will be hosting an exclusive masterclass showcasing the diverse Church Road wines, including the Grand Reserve, 1 and TOM Collections, on 11 November in Shanghai.

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