January 28 2014
Top wine connoisseurs descend on Queenstown’s Hotel St Moritz for 10th annual Pinot Noir celebration
Some of the world’s top wine connoisseurs and critics will descend on Queenstown’s St Moritz hotel this Thursday 30
January to attend the 10th annual Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration (COPNC).
Held from January 30 to February 1 2014 the event showcases the wine, food, people and places of Central Otago to a
‘who’s who’ of the wine world including one of Burgundy’s most revered figures, Aubert de Villaine.
As Gold sponsor of the event and principle accommodation provider, St Moritz Queenstown has a long-standing association
with the celebration, which perfectly matches the hotel’s unassuming and sophisticated style.
Billed as the “liveliest Pinot Celebration yet”, this year’s milestone tenth year sold out in record time, a strong
indicator to organisers that Pinot Noir is fast becoming one of the world’s “most recognised and well-loved” wine
varieties.
Hotel St Moritz general manager Lynne McVicar said hosting key VIPs for the celebration was a “huge privilege” as Pinot
Noir was integral to the hotel’s story that centres on the unique landscape of the Central Otago region which happens to
grow some of the most revered pinot grapes in the world.
“Our signature ‘Pinot Pinot Pinot’–a flight of the region’s best Pinot Noirs -are chosen for guests to taste and has
proved a hit with locals and return guests,” said Mrs McVicar.
“We can even take it a step further and perfectly match the Pinots with a degustation dining experience from our
restaurant; a foodies delight.
“Our knowledge of Pinot Noir is impressive and our team is passionate about educating and informing people about the
varietal.”
“We really value the support of Hotel St Moritz and their ongoing sponsorship and are grateful they provide such a high
quality of service and hospitality for our visiting media,” said COPNC chair Jen Parr.
During the three-day festivities, which celebrate the success and diversity of Central Otago Pinot Noir, delegates will
meet a comprehensive range of Central Otago winegrowers, with 40 producers collaborating to host the event.
As part of the ‘Downtown Lunch’ event on Saturday, St Moritz will host wineries Gibbston Valley, Hawke’s Head, Judge
Rock and Mudhouse for an interactive and informative lunch session with winemakers and representatives from each of the
wineries.
“We’re really looking forward to enjoying some fantastic wine, matched with superb food from our award-winning chef team
and hearing more from the country’s best winemakers. It’s sure to be a great afternoon,” said Mrs McVicar.
“We’re proud of our ten year collaboration with the event and look forward to many more years together promoting the
region’s wines. The event gets bigger and better each year.”
About St Moritz Queenstown
Idyllically located in the heart of delightful Queenstown, New Zealand’s premier four season lake and alpine resort,
Hotel St Moritz embodies the spirit of its location. With breathtaking views overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The
Remarkables mountain range, Hotel St Moritz has gained somewhat of an iconic status.
A founding member of Accor’s small yet distinctive MGallery collection; Hotel St Moritz embodies the essence of the
collection, offering an original upscale hotel experience authentic to its location. In possession of an atypical
character and personality, Hotel St Moritz appeals to those who require their hotel to be an integral part of their
travel experience. Combining a refreshing blend of stylish understatement overlaid with warmth and genuine hospitality –
there is little pretence here, allowing guests to immerse fully into the natural alpine environment of the Queenstown
region.
Sophisticated interiors are reminiscent of an upscale mountain lodge, and the classic lodge facilities include an
outdoor hot tub garden, boutique gymnasium, and sauna. Hotel St Moritz offers a choice of rooms, suites, and apartments,
each handsomely appointed to cleverly blend timeless classics with modern essentials.
The multi award-winning Hotel St Moritz was honoured to be inducted into Tourism New Zealand’s Hall of Fame in 2004 for
winning ‘Premium Hotel’ in New Zealand for three consecutive years. After a mandatory stand down period, the hotel was
the first to re-enter the awards to celebrate the hotel’s 10th birthday, refurbishment and entry into Accor’s exclusive
MGallery collection – winning ‘Best Hotel and Resort’ and ‘Best Visitor Accommodation’ at the 2008 New Zealand Tourism
Awards.
Queenstown is considered New Zealand’s capital of adventure – a destination for a voyage of discovery at the bottom of
the world. The resort is a popular destination with skiers and snowboarders in the winter and cyclists, hikers and
outdoor enthusiasts year round.
ENDS