The annual Craggy Range sales and marketing conference got underway last week with the Auckland and Wellington sales teams arriving in Hawke’s Bay to the region’s typical glorious summer weather.
After being roped in to model for our restaurant photographs, the sales team presented their year to date performance and set the tone for the two days. This was followed by an overview of our marketing initiatives including Facebook, Twitter, launch events and a new look website – watch this space!
There was a sense of apprehension around the room as Day 1 drew to a close and the mystery wine options evening was upon us. Who would bring the most interesting bottle? Would anyone’s offering be corked? Who will win the aroma identifying game and be crowned the Sales and Marketing “Aroma Expert”?
Over dinner, the options unveiled an eclectic selection of wines from around the world. The top red of the night was the 2001 Chateau Leoville Barton and top white went to the 2009 Dr Loosen Spatlese Riesling. But the real winner on the night was the Marketing team who excelled at all aspects of the game Cranium (particularly sketching and charades) to take the honours around the boardroom table the following morning, despite some baseless claims of cheating from the sales team.
The second day of conference involved an overview of the 2010-2012 vintages by Wine and Viticulture Director Steve Smith, a quick tour of the Gimblett Gravels Vineyard and tastings of a selection of upcoming releases. It became apparent that much of last year’s negative hype surrounding the 2011 Hawke’s Bay vintage was as unfounded as the sales team’s cheating claims. The ‘Le Sol’, ‘Sophia’ and Gimblett Gravels Syrah and Bordeaux Blends are by all indicators going to be wines of excellent quality with no declassification expected. Our task will be to encourage others to try the wines before judging the entire vintage and to trust those producers who have consistently provided quality – even in the toughest years.
Getting a sneak peak of the 2010 Prestige Collection with Rod Easthope was the perfect way to end our two days together and build momentum for another successful year for Hawke’s Bay wines. With promises of making the conference a bi-annual event, the marketing team are looking forward to visiting our new Auckland sales office later in the year and defending our Cranium title.
Natalie Corkery, Communications Manager
Complete list of wine options dinner wine (in order of vintage):
2001 Chateau Leoville Barton
2002 Pegusus Bay Aria
2002 Taylors St Andrew’s Merlot
2003 Nicholas Potel Nuits St. George Premier Cru (corked)
2007 Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay
2008 Dagueneau Sancerre Vin Blanc
2008 Gille Robin Papillon Crozes-Hermitage Syrah
2009 Domaine de Bellene Beaune Premier Cru
2009 Dr Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese Riesling
2009 Millton Les Trois Enfants