A Hawke's Bay Chardonnay has been named the champion wine at this year's Romeo Bragato Wine Awards.
The 2012 Vidal Legacy Chardonnay was produced by Phil Holden at the Keltern Vineyard in Hawke's Bay.
Chairman of judges Ben Glover said the wine had "the effortless class, poise and style of this exquisite wine shone through".
These awards, presented at the annual Romeo Bragato Winegrowers' Conference, are different from other wine awards because they specifically recognise the skills of the grape growers.
At this year's conference in Blenheim three wine industry figures were also recognised for making an outstanding contribution to the New Zealand grape and wine industry.
Hermann and Agnes Seifried from the Seifried Estate in Nelson, and Richard Riddiford from Palliser Estate in Martinborough were inducted as Fellows of New Zealand Winegrowers.
The award for Young Viticulturist of the Year was won by 27-year-old Paul Robinson from Villa Maria in Hawke's Bay.