Clearview Estate voted outstanding by Hawke's Bay hospo industry

Clearview Estate Winery is renowned for its award winning wines, but it was regional sales representative Lisa Clarke and the winery restaurant fondly known as the Red Shed, that shone at the 2012 Hawke’s Bay Hospitality Awards held this week.

Ms Clarke, who is responsible for wine trade customers spreading from Hamilton to Wellington, as well as her Hawke’s Bay home base, took out the Outstanding Supplier / Sales rep category.  The Red Shed was named the Restaurant Association Outstanding Winery Restaurant.

It was the second time nominated for Ms Clarke who started in the sales position with Clearview Estate three years ago.  She says that it was a “pleasure and a privilege to develop real relationships with her customers.  I cover a large area, so to know that in Hawke’s Bay I am thought of so highly is really humbling.

“Many of my customers are owner operators and I appreciate how passionate they are about their businesses, so I aim to match that with my passion for our great wine combined with delivering the service and right product mix they need.”

In 1991, Clearview Estate pioneered food and wine in the vines with the establishment of its restaurant and now, 21 years later, it is still providing an outstanding dining experience on the coast at Te Awanga, Hawke’s Bay.

Co-owner and co-founder, Helma van den Berg commented “The restaurant is my passion, inspired by a trip through Mediterranean Europe.  We created our courtyard restaurant and now enjoy the wide availability of local produce that suits our fresh and seasonal menus.”

For Ms van den Berg it was particularly gratifying to have 15 of the Clearview team present at the glittering award ceremony held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House.

“Our aim is to provide a unique dining experience that matches our wonderful wines, and to have our team recognised by their peers in such illustrious company was a real delight.”

The awards, held for the fifth year, are hosted by Food Hawke’s Bay, which is a membership organisation for food businesses in the region.   Over the last two months industry workers, owners, chefs, waiters, bartenders, baristas, suppliers and sales reps nominated and then voted for who they thought were the most outstanding in 15 award categories.