The Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium is back in 2026 taking place on September 17 – 18 at Toitoi in Hastings. It’s a collaborative forum for the Aotearoa wine community to assess our current standing and chart our path forward in the journey to produce exceptional Chardonnay.
The Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium returns to Te Matau-a-M?ui Hawke’s Bay for its third edition, bringing together the New Zealand wine community for two days of focused discussion, tasting and exchange.
The theme of the 2026 symposium is quality, with a programme focused on the unique features that define our whenua (land), climate, and philosophy, and how these elements come together to enable the production of premium Chardonnay.
Together, we will delve into what makes quintessentially great Aotearoa Chardonnay, and explore how we can consistently craft wines that exhibit exceptional quality, texture and balance.
Attendees can expect a curated lineup of benchmark wines, including international comparisons and rare examples, alongside contributions from leading local and international voices.
Sessions span the full arc of production and presentation, including:
– defining quality in a global context
– below-ground influences such as soil biology and plant health
– above-ground vineyard decisions including canopy and harvest timing
– case studies from leading producers
– conversations around style, texture and storytelling
Registrations are now open via Event Finder: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/aotearoa-chardonnay-symposium-2026/hastings
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