A trophy-winning debut

Our very first Pinot Gris has taken out the Pinot Gris Trophy at the 2026 Hawke's Bay Wine Awards.

It's a wine that comes from our Te Hau vineyard at Matapiro, an elevated inland site at Crownthorpe and one of the coolest places we grow. Fifteen-year-old vines on old red gravels and volcanic silt give it ripe pear, nashi and red apple skin, with a lift of ginger and spice.

The 2026 season helped too. Long warm days, cool nights and a settled, dry February and March gave us one of our earliest harvests and real concentration of flavour.

Senior Winemaker Dave Mackintosh, Operations Winemaker Craig Thomas and Viticulturist Odette Preston worked on this wine together from fruit set to final blend. It's a team result, and more importantly, a seriously delicious wine that's already a favourite with family and friends.

Also golden at this year's awards: Čuvar Guardians Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2024 and Čuvar Iris Rosé 2026.