HAWKE’S BAY WINE AUCTION SMASHES RECORDS, CELEBRATES $5 MILLION RAISED FOR CRANFORD HOSPICE – Standing ovation as generous bid from Isaac’s Plumbing, Pumping & Electrical takes total raised since the Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction began past $5 million.
The Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction reached a spectacular milestone yesterday, raising $370,000 for Cranford Hospice and taking the total funds raised over its 35-year history to more than $5 million.
More than 40 lots of the region’s finest wines, generously donated by Hawke’s Bay’s leading winemakers and businesses, went under the hammer – with every cent going directly to Cranford Hospice to support their vital work providing specialist palliative care to patients and families across the region.
The crowd of over 320 guests, along with 42 registered online bidders and three phone bidders, were treated to an afternoon of world-class wines, spirited competition, and extraordinary generosity.
The defining moment of the day came earlier than anyone expected, when a spectacular bid tipped the lifetime fundraising total over the $5 million mark. Long-time wine auction sponsors Isaac’s Plumbing, Pumping and Electrical placed a $35,000 winning bid on Lot 7, a half barrique of Trinity Hill 2025 Touriga Francesa Port-Style Wine. Their generosity brought the room to its feet in a standing ovation.
“Isaac’s are proud to have supported the wine auction for a number of years, and knowing that our donations go directly to the hardworking staff at Cranford makes the decision easy. Helping people in the community we operate in is something that makes us immensely proud,” said Isaac’s Director, Gavin Streeter.
The emotion of the $5 million moment was matched by heartfelt recognition for Kate Radburnd and Tony Bish, who were acknowledged for their incredible 30+ years of service as Trustees of the Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction. Both will step down from the auction committee this year, marking the end of an era.
A Day Full of Highlights
The afternoon began in the Assembly Ballroom with a lively tasting of more than 40 wines from both the live and silent auction lots, including New Zealand’s most expensive wine, Lorenzo the Magnificent from Chateau Garage.
Guests were guided through the afternoon by Event Ambassador, Mike McRoberts, while auctioneer Chris Kennedy in association with Harcourts Hawke’s Bay kept the bidding fast-paced, entertaining, and full of energy.
Auction highlights included:
- Cape IX, the striking artwork donated by Joe Helmore, which sold to a phone bidder for $18,000.
- Fierce competition erupting for Lot 18, which saw 12 magnums of Brookfields Reserve 2019 Hillside Syrah and lunch for eight at Brookfields Winery sold for $18,000
- $40,000 total raised across the three full-barrique lots (donated by Gimblett Gravels Wine Growers Association, Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District and Church Road)
By the end of the afternoon, a new record total of $370,000 had been raised – surpassing the previous record of $352,440 set in 2022.
A Celebration of Generosity and Community
“We are so thrilled to have hit a new record, and to have raised so much money to support Cranford Hospice,” said Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction General Manager Sam Kershaw. “To see so much generosity and community spirit in the room made for such an exciting afternoon, especially knowing we welcomed so many first-timers to the event. This was an auction full of excitement, surprises, and some truly unforgettable moments.”
Andrew Lesperance, Chief Executive of Cranford Hospice, said the funds raised will make a tangible difference to families across the region.“We are humbled by the incredible generosity shown at this year’s wine auction. Every cent raised helps us provide compassionate, specialist palliative care to patients and their wh?nau. This support ensures we can continue to be there for people when they need us most, and we are deeply grateful to the winemakers, sponsors, and bidders who made this record-breaking day possible.”
The Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction once again proved to be not just a showcase of the region’s exceptional winemaking, but also an afternoon of generosity, entertainment, and celebration – a true highlight of the Hawke’s Bay calendar.