Founded in 1993, by winemaker John Hancock together with Robert and Robyn Wilson, owners of The Bleeding Heart and The Don in London, Trinity Hill has become a byword for quality and consistency. In 2021, Trinity Hill was bought by a group of New Zealand private investors who are passionate about the wine industry, including Director, Mitch Plaw and his business partners, Craig Turner, Mark Sandelin and Michael Nock. Winemaker Warren Gibson has been with Trinity Hill since 1997. He is also in charge of the 80 hectares of vineyard owned by Trinity Hill and knows Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels exceptionally well. The wines reflect this. Warren and his team make wines that show the best of what Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels can produce. The wines have an elegance, balance, drinkability and precision of flavour that makes them a joy to drink.

The Hawkes Bay Chardonnay has wonderful balance. Gentle pressing without crushing or de-stemming, a percentage of wild yeast fermentation, ageing in French oak barrels and full malolactic fermentation has resulted in a delicious and very drinkable wine with aromas of citrus and white flowers combined with a rich creamy texture. The 2021 Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of fruit from four subregions. It is quite distinct from Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, with gentle aromas and flavours of stone fruit and lime.

The reds are, if anything, even more impressive. The Hawkes Bay Syrah is from a range of Hawkes Bay vineyards, including properties in the Gimblett Gravels along with fruit from the Red Metal Triangle region and selected hillside sites. The aim was to retain the vibrant fruit of Hawkes Bay, so the wine was only given a short period of ageing in oak. The blackberry, spice and peppery notes shine through on both the nose and palate. The Hawkes Bay ‘The Trinity’ is a Merlot-dominant blend that is supplemented by Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec from various vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels. Rich with soft, ripe tannins and flavours of plum, cassis and spice, it is an impressive wine. For the Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir, a small portion of the fruit undergoes whole-bunch fermentation which adds to the wine’s character. The result is a wine with flavours of fresh raspberry, plum and brambly spice with soft, velvety tannins.