2019 Business Excellence Award

WINNER - Misha's Vineyard

The judges described Business Excellence Award winner, Misha’s Vineyard, as `a textbook case of excellent business practice, essentially faultless.”

Business owners, Misha and Andy Wilkinson’s `no compromises’ approach has led to the development of their highly successful, world-class viticulture business.

Meticulous planning, excellent strategy, creative marketing and quality partnerships are the backbone of their success. From the careful selection of the best land for growing vines to their incredibly detailed customer focus, Misha and Andy leave nothing to chance.

Their vineyard produces 11,000 cases of wine annually from a 57ha estate on lakefront terraces at Bendigo. Wine is sold within New Zealand and exported to 14 countries.

Within a few vintages Misha’s Vineyard made UK Decanter magazine’s top 20 list of New Zealand wine producers, chosen from 700 wine producers across the country.

Misha and Andy’s vision has always been to produce some of New Zealand’s finest wines, and to establish a successful wine production and sales business with a globally recognised brand. They do all of this while demonstrating an enduring commitment to the Central Otago region and our community.

finalist - The Bannockburn Hotel - Wine Country Restaurant & Bar


The Bannockburn Hotel – Wine Country Restaurant & Bar celebrates all good things about Central Otago produce.

Owners Anna and Andy Mackintosh bought the hotel in 2016 backed by solid industry knowledge and a clear vision: they wanted customers to experience exceptional Central Otago wine and food in authentic surroundings. They had spotted a gap in the market for a place that showcased the breadth of Central Otago’s exquisite wine and seasonal food offerings.

With the hotel’s extensive menu of fresh, innovative tapa-style or traditional bistro dishes, capped by excellent local and international wines, Anna and Andy have hit the mark. The hotel was listed as one of the 50 best wine experiences worldwide in Gourmet Traveller 2019.

With hospitality second-to-none matched by a world class menu and 200 wines on the wine list, the Bannockburn Hotel has been transformed from a typical country pub to a renowned destination that’s a local favourite and loved by visitors from further afield.



finalist - Radiance Skin & Day Spa

Creating a haven of true `me time’ where clients connect and `slow down’, is the fundamental philosophy behind Radiance Skin and Day Spa.

The Cromwell business is the vision of owner Jo Thomas, who offers clients luxury beauty treatments in a tranquil and restorative space.

Jo is an entrepreneur whose business savvy, strong customer focus and caring nature bring success. A qualified beauty therapist, she chose Cromwell as the base for her business, recognising the town’s growth opportunities.

Jo cares deeply about her staff as well as her clients. She employs highly skilled, professional therapists, nurturing them with opportunities to upskill and pursue their career interests in a supportive environment.

But above all, Jo wants to make a positive contribution to people’s lives. She has created a quiet place away from the daily pressures of busy lives where clients soak up special pampering time, forgetting the outside world.

finalist - Flow Space Yoga & Wellness Centre

With `nothing but a big heart ready to give,’ Angela Connell shifted back to Alexandra from Australia to establish the Flow Space Yoga & Wellness Centre.

She wanted to create a centre for health and wellbeing where like-minded health practitioners share a collective space. Through her business savvy, hard work and creativity, Angela is achieving this.

Flow Space Yoga & Wellness Centre supports the mental, physical and spiritual needs of the community. Angela provides yoga, meditation and mindfulness classes to all age groups and community sectors, including specialised courses for primary school children and tailor-made sessions for adults.

Angela understands the value of collaboration and connection with other health care providers to support people’s health and better their lives.

Empowering people to live by values founded on compassion, inclusion, evolution, community and environmental ethics is at the core of Angela’s business—creating a space where people stop and be still.

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