Biggest Pinot Noir celebration NZ has seen

28 March 2006

Registrations open for biggest Pinot Noir celebration NZ has seen

Registrations are now open for what will be the biggest celebration ever held in New Zealand of wine’s most fickle but fascinating grape.

Pinot Noir lovers can log on to HYPERLINK "http://www.pinotnoir2007.co.nz/"www.pinotnoir2007.co.nz and register online for the four day Pinot Noir 2007 celebration in January next year.

Almost 100 wineries are already signed up to participate in the event and Chairman Steve Smith says that’s both a measure of the increase in planting and production of Pinot Noir in New Zealand, and an indication of how much Pinot Noir has grown in popularity.

“It’s an exciting time for New Zealand Pinot Noir producers – we have the opportunity to be a great Pinot Noir-producing country simply because we have got the natural resources to do it.

“There’s a worldwide trend in food and wine for lighter, fresher styles and Pinot Noir fits perfectly with that. We need to recognise that huge opportunity and become part of it.”

Steve says the Board of Pinot Noir 2007 has been delighted with the response from wineries and people interested in attending so far.

“Before registrations opened this week, we’d already had around 200 people from all over the world register their details with us. That’s a fantastic response and I would urge all those interested in attending to get in quick, as our numbers are strictly limited.”

Steve says an important update for those interested in attending is that the dates for the event have changed.

“We discovered the International Rugby Sevens are likely to be held in Wellington the same weekend as we originally planned. That would create pressure on venues, hike up accommodation and hospitality prices, and generally result in some significant logistical issues for us.

“So we have moved the event forward by two days, now starting on the Monday 29 January 2007 and culminating on Thursday 1 February with the Gala Dinner.

“The change not only works well for the two symposia Nelson and Hawkes Bay winemakers are hosting on New Zealand Aromatic wines and Syrah which will now be held on the weekend either side of Pinot Noir 2007, it’s great news for wine lovers who are also rugby fans, as there’s no longer a clash!”

Steve says another couple of leading international wine experts have been added to the speakers’ programme, and there are several more still to confirm.
“Monty Waldin, one of the world’s leading authorities on biodynamic and organic viticulture and winemaking will be joining us, along with Australian Master of Wine and specialist wine auctioneer Andrew Caillard.”
Other speakers include:

Top UK wine writer, lecturer, judge and commentator Matthew Jukes

* The French master of soil, Claude Bourguignon

* Jacques Lardière of Maison Louis Jadot, arguably Burgundy’s most prestigious negociant and producer.

* Poh Tiong, publisher of The Wine Review, South-East Asia’s oldest wine magazine and

* Michel Bettane, France’s most respected and prominent wine writer and

* Australian viticulture lecturer, researcher, author and inventor Dr Peter Dry

Pinot Noir 2007 won’t just be about great wine but also great food, with leading Chef, Caterer and Food Writer Ruth Pretty in charge of the culinary programme.

“What better opportunity will food and wine lovers have to mix and mingle with international wine stars, sample top New Zealand wines and indulge in delicious local cuisine,” says Steve.

“Pinot Noir has some serious aims – we want to promote New Zealand’s super and ultra premium wines to the world, focusing on the uniqueness of our wines and the special contribution they make.

“But we also want to have 500 of the world’s key wine media, trade, connoisseur wine lovers and winemakers join us for four days of serious fun in celebration of New Zealand Pinot Noir.

“Pinot Noir 2007 really is a must-have on the calendar of anyone with a love of, or involvement with, New World Pinot Noir.”

ENDS

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