On the 17^th of March, John Buck’s lifetime contribution to the New Zealand Wine Industry was recognised when he was inducted into the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame. His selection was announced at a glittering black-tie dinner at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds.

His award was presented by the Chairman of The Hall of Fame Trust, Michael Brett, who said “John Buck has made notable contributions to the New Zealand wine industry. His Te Mata Estate has been the standard bearer for New Zealand. In Coleraine, he has produced, year after year, a wine that brings international acclaim both to Te Mata and the New Zealand industry.”

In his acceptance John Buck emphasized that NZ wine had been so good to him. John stated “It has given me great friends, a business that two sons have followed me into, a role on the world stage of fine wine, and the challenge of competing with the best.”

Since John’s earliest vintage in 1982 Te Mata Estate has been recognised as New Zealand’s greatest wine producer and its flagship wine, Coleraine as New Zealand’s greatest red wine. Sam Kim, The Dominion Post named Coleraine “ The greatest New Zealand wine ever made.”

John’s contribution to the New Zealand wine industry extends well beyond his role at Te Mata Estate. John helped with the founding and development of Hawke's Bay Vintners from its very early days (now Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers), when there were only seven wineries in Hawke's Bay, and was its Chairman in the 1980s.

In 1991, John established the Hawke’s Bay Charity Wine Auction, which continues today more than 20 years later, having raised more than $2 million for Hawke’s Bay’s Cranford Hospice and has bound Hawke’s Bay’s wine industry into its local community.

He represented Hawke's Bay on the Board of the New Zealand Wine Institute through the late 1980s and then, from 1991 to 1996, was the Chairman of the New Zealand Wine Institute. This was period of great change in New Zealand wine and John instigated and directed many initiatives that shaped the New Zealand industry of today

EuroVintage are very pleased to see John receive the highest honour in New Zealand wine. John’s contribution to the New Zealand wine industry is second to none.

Previous inductees to the Hall of Fame:

Inaugural 2005:

James Busby

Romeo Bragato

Heinrich Breidecker

Charles Levet

Joseph Soler

Israel Wendel

Friedrich Wohnsiedler

Assid Abraham Corban

Tom McDonald OBE, FWINZ

George Mazuran OBE, FWINZ

2006:

Mate Brajkovich OBE, FWINZ

Alex Corban OBE, FWINZ

David Hohnen

Frank Yukich FWINZ

2007:

Joseph Annis Corban, MBE, FWINZ

Dr Richard Smart

Ross R Spence QSO, FNZW

2008:

Bryan William Mogridge ONZM

Kevyn Douglas Moore QSM

2009:

Peter Vernon Hubscher MNZM

Terence John Dunleavy MBE, FWINZ

2010:

Ross Goodin ONZM

Richard Daniel Riddiford MNZM

2011:

Sir George Vjeceslav Fistonich, KNZM