Wine Event Showcases NZ's Finest

Media Release Friday, 17 August 2007

Premier Trade Wine Event Showcases Many of New Zealand’s Finest and Some of New Zealand’s Best Kept Secrets.

Event organiser dmg world media reports more than 175 wineries will be represented in the hugely popular Wine New Zealand next month in Auckland Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, this event will feature more than 1000 New Zealand wines across all the major varietals – the largest showcase of New Zealand wines in one place. This event is truly a celebration of a remarkable decade for the New Zealand wine industry, with boutique and emerging wineries exhibiting alongside the country’s top wine producers and established wineries

“It is very exciting to see a number of emerging and boutique wineries as first time exhibitors at Wine New Zealand, who have chosen this event to release their wines to the premier hospitality industry.” commented Michele Harrod, Group Trade Manager, dmg world media.

One such first time exhibitor is ‘Gem’ - a youthful, fresh wine label, owned and produced by ex-Chief Winemaker at Matua Valley, Corey Hall & his wife Meg. “We are especially excited about releasing our 2006 Gem Pinot Noir and 2006 Gem Merlot at the event,” comments Corey. Gem has already released a 2005 Chardonnay which was awarded 4 ½ stars by Michael Cooper in Winestate Magazine, and more recently a 2006 Pinot Gris & Sauvignon Blanc.

A first time boutique-style distributor exhibiting at Wine New Zealand is Preferred Boutique Wines, which aims to develop a classy portfolio of boutique-style wineries – all with something exceptional to offer. Preferred Boutique Wines are proud to represent Isabel Estate at Wine New Zealand, one of the largest family owned vineyards in Marlborough, with a simple philosophy: “respect the soil where the grapes grow and allow the unique characters of each vineyard and variety to be expressed in the final wine”. Preferred Wines Ltd was launched in 2006 by Alecia Donald and Robert Ottosen and they hope that by gaining a reputation for excellence, they will cultivate a great success story for the wineries they represent and the businesses they supply to.

Wine New Zealand is the critical business event for thousands of wine buyers, sommeliers and restaurant proprietors where they can taste new release wines, meet the winemakers, attend informative wine seminars and tastings and keep abreast of industry trends.

Wine New Zealand is a particular highlight for Restaurateur and hospitality professional Tony Adcock and his team at Harbourside Restaurant. This is the place where they collectively decide what wines they will stock for the next year.

“I take my front of office staff to the Hospitality Wine New Zealand event. It’s a really good opportunity for them to get to understand more about wines and what new emerging wines are available,” he says.

“The Wine New Zealand Guide that we get at the show is one of the most important resource guides and we will continue referring to it throughout the year. All the supplier contacts and wines are listed in it, which is great.”

Wine New Zealand takes place as part of HospitalityNZ, from Sunday 2 September - Tuesday 4 September in Hall Two, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland from 11am-5pm. Additional information is available at www.hospitalitynz.co.nz

Wine New Zealand wishes to acknowledge the support of its 2007 sponsors; O-I New Zealand, Spiegelau, BermarNZ Ltd,, Labels for Wine, Puhoi Cheese , Regal Salmon, Bennetts of Mangawhai and premier magazine partner Cuisine magazine.

ENDS

© Scoop Media