International Aromatic Wine Competition – MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 22 August 2012 – For immediate release

Wine competition celebrates tenth year with announcement of naming rights partner

The International Aromatic Wine Competition, hosted by the Canterbury A&P Association in conjunction with the Canterbury A&P Show, is celebrating its tenth year with the announcement of a new naming rights partner, Avenues – the magazine Christchurch lives by.

The Avenues International Aromatic Wine Competition focuses on aromatic wines including Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Viognier and other wine varieties including Muscat, Verdeldo, Arneis and Sauvignon Gris, made in an aromatic style from any internationally recognised region. The purpose of the competition is to highlight to consumers the best aromatic wine varieties available in the New Zealand market for the wine drinker.

“The competition debuted in 2003 with a focus on Riesling wines, its scope was expanded the following year and since then has gone on to become the country’s foremost competition for white varietals. The focus on aromatic wines is very beneficial for wine producers and distributors, giving them a single point for benchmarking their wine by world standards.

We are excited to have Avenues on board this year, in addition to The Press who has signed on as media partner for the Canterbury A&P Show. It’s a big year for the Canterbury A&P Association, as we are also celebrating the 150th Canterbury A&P Show” commented Show Event Director Rae Finlay.

“Avenues is delighted to be the principal sponsor of the 2012 International Aromatic Wine Competition. Our readers are passionately interested in wine with no less than three out of four of our readers, more than 75,000 people, enjoying wine as part of their life. As the magazine that Christchurch lives by, it seems a logical and natural fit for us to support the work that the Canterbury A&P Association does to bring this great event to Christchurch each year and we are thrilled to support the week that celebrates the best on show,” says Simon Mullinger, Avenues Manager.

Entries for the 2012 competition are now open. Chairman of judges Terry Copeland will lead a panel of experienced judges for the rigorous testing process. Judges include Petter Evans (Sherwood Estate), Yvonne Lorkin (Beverages Editor Dish Magazine), Jim Harre (New Zealand Winegrowers), Sam Kim (wine writer), Kate Radburnd (The Wine Institute of New Zealand), and Sarah Burton (Cloudy Bay).

Wines will compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals with an overall winner decided from each variety receiving the section trophy. All section winners then compete for the title of Supreme Champion Wine in Show. A new addition to the trophy list this year is ‘The Spence Brothers Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc Producer’.

“The Spence Brothers Trophy recognises the producer who makes a range of Sauvignon Blanc styles that reflects the highest quality among all Sauvignon Blanc’s judged. As pioneers of the New Zealand wine industry, it was Ross and Bill Spence who planted the first Sauvignon Blanc vines in New Zealand and their vineyard (Matua Valley) which developed the Sauvignon Blanc industry we know today” added Terry Copeland.

Competition entries close 5pm Wednesday 3 October with winners announced on Wednesday 10 October 2012. Winning wines will be on display in the Food & Wine NZ Pavilion at the Canterbury A&P Show in November.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY

Wines will be judged on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October in Christchurch. Judging on Saturday will take place from 2pm to 5pm, and 9am to 5pm on Sunday. Media are invited to attend, by arrangement. Photo opportunities and judge’s comments will be available.

-ENDS-

For more information: Nicola Cull, Marketing Manager, Tenth Dot Management

Phone 03 365 4203 Mobile 0212 65 1174  Email nicola@theshow.co.nz