Kim Crawford Wines is the personal vehicle of Kim Crawford, one of New Zealand's top wine makers. Kim Crawford became involved in wine and wine making while completing a BSc in microbiology and botany at Massey University. 'It was a revolutionary time for New Zealand winemaking. New varieties – Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay – were being planted and the potential was there to be able to drink something other than sherry'. Rather than being situated in one specific area of New Zealand, Kim Crawford Wines is a 'virtual vineyard' utilising small selected vineyards in Marlborough, Gisborne and the Hawke's Bay, where Kim believes the grapes grow best. Kim Crawford wines have won too many awards to list, but recent successes include the Trophy for the Champion Riesling at the Royal Easter Wine Show 2001. The Winery's tasting room and cellar door facilities are located at the Te Awanga Vineyard in Hawke’s Bay and are open to visitors 7 days per week over summer and Saturday to Monday over winter.