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Welcome to Tony Bish Wines e-cellar door

Located in the art deco icon The National Tobacco Company Building is The Urban Winery, the home of Tony Bish Wines. Tony produces premium wines made exclusively from the King of White Grapes, Chardonnay. As such, Tony is Australasia’s only Chardonnay specialist.

Tony has had a long career in the NZ Wine industry, spanning 38 vintages and counting. He was Senior Winemaker and Founder of Sacred Hill Vineyards Ltd, a highly awarded winery with significant exports.

Innovation is at the heart of all Tony does. He has built NZ’s first concrete egg fermenters and produces two wine styles made with this unique methodology. Tony also imported the first French Oak Ovum egg fermenter to the Southern Hemisphere, and the resulting wine Zen is a masterpiece of style and innovation. Tony produces 5 different Chardonnay styles, that have all received wide acclaim in NZ and in key overseas markets.

The Urban Winery is a very stylish and modern fit out of an old tobacco building. There are a wide range of Hawke’s Bays finest wines showcased alongside Tony’s own Chardonnays. Daily wine and craft beer tastings occur, along with a Tapas menu, live music, and many interesting events and activities.

Reviews

2019 Fat & Sassy

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Gorgeously fruited and immediately appealing, the inviting bouquet shows golden peach, mango, lemon zest, hazelnut and nougat characters with subtle butterscotch complexity. The palate delivers terrific fruit intensity and persistency, while remaining balanced and harmonious with creamy mouthfeel and refreshing acidity. It’s crowd-pleasing and highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2023. www.tonybishwines.co.nz. Feb 2020.

93/100, 5 Star.

2019 Skin in the Game

Cameron Douglas, M.S

A complex, intriguing and enticing bouquet of Chardonnay. Takes more than a few sniffs to get all the content and story of this example - aromas of chalk and texture, red apple skin and dry citrus peel, some floral moments and a core of energy. Dry on the palate with a core of texture and skin contact derived flavours - hard to describe so I'll just suggest you try the wine and decide for yourself - suffice to say complex and intriguing, detailed and lengthy. Drink now and through 2022+.

92/100

2019 Heartwood

Bob Campbell, M.W.

Barrel-fermented Mendoza clone chardonnay that’s predictably rich with plenty of weight and generous peach and spicy oak flavours. An assertive and appealing wine with an impressively lingering finish. (Screwcap)

Score: 94 ★★★★

2019 Golden Egg

Rebecca Gibb M.W.

This Chardonnay has a harmonious, flowing palate that winemaker Tony Bish puts down to the constant lees interaction in the fermentation vessel: a concrete egg. There's richness and silken texture in abundance. Expect subtle white stone fruit characters, but the lasting impression of this wine is a savory, almond-like flavor on the lengthy, chalky finish.

92/100

2018 Skeetfield

Bob Campbell, M.W.

From 26-year-old, unirrigated Mendoza-clone vines. Rich, concentrated chardonnay with peach, grapefruit, ginger, toasted nut, and spicy oak flavours. A powerful wine with syrup-like intensity and texture supported by fine, fruity acidity. Good now but should cellar well.

95/100

2018 Zen

Bob Campbell, M.W.

Grapes from Skeetfield vineyard were fermented in a large egg-shaped vessel made of Taransaud French oak and christened Ovum. The result is an impressively seamless and quite concentrated chardonnay with apple, white peach, ginger, and subtle oak flavours.

96/100