Entries open for 2013 Air New Zealand Wine Awards…

Sustainability continues to be a focus for this year’s awards. All wines from 2010 vintage onwards entered into the competition are required to be produced under recognised independently audited sustainability programmes.

New Zealand Winegrowers’ Global Marketing Director, Chris Yorke, says the New Zealand wine industry’s commitment to sustainability is significant for local and global markets. “Sustainability has been a focus of the Air New Zealand Wine Awards since 2007 and it is an integral part of New Zealand’s wine industry,” says Yorke. “Producing premium wine and grapes with minimal impact on our environment is a fantastic platform to market New Zealand both here and overseas.”

A panel of local and international judges will come together on 4-6 November to judge the entries. The three international judges are US wine writer Dan Berger, Australian sommelier and consultant Sophie Otton, and Swedish Master of Wine Madeleine Stenwreth. Accompanying them will be some of New Zealand’s most experienced and respected wine judges.

The Air New Zealand Wine Awards is the premier wine competition in New Zealand, recognising excellence in winemaking. The competition is owned and organised by New Zealand Winegrowers, the national organisation for the country’s 1,700 grape growers and winemakers.
Entries close on Friday 20 September.

For more information and to enter, visit www.airnzwineawards.com