Premier trade wine event

Media Release Friday, 7 September 2007

Premier trade wine event gathers together the cream of the Hospitality Industry and visitors nominate the pick of the bunch.

Hospitality professionals gathered en masse at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds to attend New Zealand’s premier wine trade event, Wine New Zealand from Sunday 2nd to Tuesday 4th September.

An annual show, 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.

As Wine New Zealand celebrated its 10th Anniversary, each visitor to the event received a complimentary Spiegelau Authentis Tasting Glass, valued at $30 each with which to sample the extensive showcase of wines from some of New Zealand’s finest wine producers. Glasses were generously supplied by sponsor Spiegelau and visitors were invited to keep their glass as a memento of their visit.

Highlights at this year’s show included the Wine New Zealand Seminars as well as the 10th Anniversary Buyers Choice Awards. The Wine seminars saw an outstanding line up of winemakers and hospitality professionals share their insights on trends in New Zealand wine. The Buyers Choice Awards recognised one winery and one winemaker, which visitors nominated as having had an impact on their overall experience at the show. There were two premium glass trophies, supplied by sponsors O-I New Zealand and labels for wine, presented to the winners at a ceremony officiated by Philip Gregan, CEO New Zealand Winegrowers Association on the final day of the event.

The Finalists in the O-I New Zealand Buyers Choice Awards winery category were Terrace Heights Estate, Amisfield Wine Company, Amor-Bendall Wines and Villa Maria Estate. The trophy and award went to Amor-Bendall Wines and winemaker Noel Amor received the trophy on their behalf at the awards presentation.

The Finalists in the Labels for Wine Buyers Choice Awards winemaker category, were John Hancock from Trinity Hill Wines, Simon Waghorn from Astrolabe Wines, John Forrest from Forrest Estate Wines and Allan Scott from Allan Scott -Family Winemakers. The trophy was awarded to John Forrest, Forrest Estate Wines.

Attendance was up considerably year on year, with first indications showing visitor numbers (including revisits) up by 26% on the 2006 event. Organisers are waiting on the audited report from CAB, which should be available in about 3-4 weeks.

With 185 wine exhibitors showcasing in excess of 1,500 wines across approximately 15 varietals, there is no doubt that this year’s 10th Anniversary Wine New Zealand was truly a celebration of a remarkable decade for the New Zealand Wine Industry.

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

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