It’s been a busy month or so for Pinot Noir NZ 2013. One of the highlights was a tweet from UK wine writer Jamie Goode “Bold statement: within 10 yrs New Zealand could be known for making the world’s consistently best Pinot Noir & Syrah.”
The comment almost coincided with figures showing New Zealand is now exporting well over one million cases of Pinot Noir each year. As NZ Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan points out “That is 14 million impressions of New Zealand found in some of the most desirable locations around the world.”
New Zealand Pinot Noir comes from at least six of the most diverse, beautiful and interesting agricultural regions in our country, all of whom will be together in Wellington for Pinot Noir NZ 2013.
Over 110 wineries will represent the regions of Central Otago & Waitaki, Marlborough and the ‘Pinot Pioneer’ regions of Waipara Valley/North Canterbury, Nelson and Wairarapa/Martinborough.
Over the last month there has been a series of road shows by some of the Pinot Noir NZ 2013 team and it’s allowed perspective leading up to the Pinot Noir NZ event. There is a real sense of collectiveness which is gaining momentum. Each region is getting prepared to share their stories, inside knowledge and passion for the ‘heartbreak grape’.
Pinot Noir NZ 2013 will effectively take over the Wellington waterfront from 28 – 31 January 2013, the first time one event has done this.
The programme is exciting, and it all culminates in a great Pinot Party catered by Ruth Pretty. Each region will have its own venue and delegates will spend a day at each region learning, tasting then debating a wide range of topics. The last day will include a formal Burgundy tasting led by Nick Mills and Jasper Morris MW plus a New Zealand regional tasting led by Tim Atkin MW of the UK. The evenings will be taken up by a range of social activities that will enable the delegates to taste a wide range of other wines from the participating wineries as well as more Pinot. There will be a public tasting as part of Pinot Noir NZ 2013, and unprecedented access to world renowned winemakers.
Pinot Noir NZ 2013 will hear from some of the world’s most respected wine commentators. Matt Kramer, Bernie Sun MS, Raj Parr and Alder Yarrow from the USA, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW who writes for Robert Parker and Ned Goodwin MW and Indra Kumar from Asia, Matthew Jukes from the UK and Mike Bennie, Nick Stock and Philip Rich from Australia along with Emmanuel Bourguignon from France and New Zealand’s own Sam Neill.
As Pinot Noir NZ Chair Alastair Maling MW says “New Zealand Pinot Noir is setting the world on fire. It is becoming a must have on restaurant lists in the USA which is an aspect we have been striving for. It is a competitive market, but the consistent quality and remarkable impression that New Zealand wines have created has made the world sit up and notice. To really appreciate what New Zealand has achieved, a week at Pinot Noir NZ 2013 will become an unforgettable experience – we call it a thinking party.”
Registrations can be made here: www.pinotnz.co.nz/tickets
Follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pinotnoirnz or Facebook: www.facebook.com/PinotNoirNZ
For registration enquiries contact info@pinotnz.co.nz