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Te Awanga, with its sea views and breezes, coastal loams and salty air, is the main line for us. The vineyards, the people, the winemaking, the tinkering, the thinking, the planning and dreaming – these moving parts all eventually arrive at the one point – Te Awanga. It’s where it all comes together.

From small beginnings hand labelling Quarter Acre bottles at the kitchen table, to the organic transformation of Te Awanga Estate, the adventures of the One Off label, to the creation of Wildsong, and all the hard graft and great people in between.

About 25 years ago, I arrived in Hawke’s Bay with a love for making wine and everything I owned packed into the back seat of a small car. A green-horn cellarhand doing my time on the winery floor, and frankly loving every minute of it. No amount of day-dreaming then could have predicted that a patch of dirt on the East Coast of the North Island, New Zealand, would be where I landed, settled in and started to dig into what makes great wine taste like where it comes from.

This is how it’s played out…so far.

To be continued.

Reviews

Te Awanga Estate Quarter Acre Chardonnay 2020, Haumoana, Hawkes Bay

Reductive aromas hit the nose first, but once you look past this then the power of winemaking kicks in to showcase a core of citrus and mix of orchard fruit flavours. The texture on the palate is equally engaging with lees and spice, citrus and green apple. No mistaking the acidity and palate tension or tautness, there's poise too. A wine that will provoke conversation while showcasing the range of styles available in the Bay.

94 Points

Excellent platter enjoyed above the vines

We cycled from Napier with our 2 teenage daughters (on e-bikes) and had lunch here. We were seated outside on a sunny winter (July) day above the vines - great location! Had a very reasonably priced tasting of about 5 Te Awanga wines and enjoyed a bottle of the Syrah. The platter we ordered was first class. More than filling for 2, full of meats and cheeses and love. Our waitress was very friendly. Thanks for an enjoyable lunch after a long bike ride! 😀

Te Awanga Estate The Loom Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay

Described as ‘a typical coastal Chardy’, the distinctive 2019 vintage (5*) was hand-picked and fermented and lees-aged for 10 months in French oak barriques (40 per cent new). Bright, light lemon/green, with a fragrant, complex bouquet, it is mouthfilling and savoury, with concentrated, ripe, peachy, citrusy flavours and a lasting finish. Showing excellent personality, it’s well worth cellaring.

Details

Type: White Wines
Variety: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2019
Overall Rating for All Vintages Tasted: ★★★★★ – 5 Stars