Press Release
The challenge of staging NZ’s biggest wine event
Nearly 9000 bottles of wine, 12,000 Zerrutti Ultimo tasting glasses
and 500 wine and food lovers from all over the world – sounds like
one heck of a party!
But while the wine will be flowing, along with conversation and great
food, there is very much a serious side to Pinot Noir 2007.This is the
third time the four-day celebration of Pinot Noir – in
Wellington from 29 January – 1 February 2007 – has been held.
“And we’ve got more registrations than ever before, and
more people coming from overseas than ever before,” says Pinot
Noir Board Chairman Steve Smith MW, “so it’s no exaggeration
when we say this is the biggest event of its kind ever held by the New
Zealand wine industry.”
Steve says the event will provide an opportunity for some vigorous debate
about the state of the wine industry in New Zealand, and a chance for
all involved to look to the future.
“We want everyone to leave having had a fantastic time, but also
having a much greater knowledge, and appreciation, of New Zealand wine
in general – not just Pinot Noir.”
Some of the wine and food world’s biggest stars are coming down-under
for the event including more than eight Masters of Wine (there are only
about 250 registered MWs in the world) and the first person to hold both
titles of Master of Wine and Master Sommelier.
And it’s not just stars of the wine world that will be featured – some
leading international chefs are also taking part in the accompanying
culinary programme devised by Ruth Pretty.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Ambassador Chefs Shawn McClain, Todd
Gray and Brad Farmerie – all from the USA – and Graham Brown
from North Canterbury will cook the main dishes at the Gala Dinner. And
Josh Emmett from the UK and Rex Morgan from Wellington will join Brad
in designing gourmet sausages for one of the conference sessions.
Steve Smith says the event has taken 18 months to plan, and has been
colossal in terms of logistics.
“We had 750 wines submitted for the social functions alone that
had to be tasted and chosen, and you can imagine the challenge in serving
500 people 24 wines for tasting in one session and then having to wash
all the glasses ready for the next session.
“But we wanted to meet the challenge of ensuring 2007 was bigger,
better and more successful than the events of 2001 and 2004 and I think
we have done that.
“New Zealand Pinot Noirs are ready to command centre stage – we
know we are making some of the finest Pinots inthe new world and we
want to make sure the rest of the world knows about it.”
There are still a few full delegate places left to purchase for Pinot
Noir 2007, as well as tickets to the Grand Public tasting or the Cuisine
magazine Pinot Lover’s Day of Homage. Tickets can be purchased
online at www.pinotnoir2007.co.nz
For further information please
contact:
Leigh Parker
Ph: 64 27 447 3904
or leigh.parker@actrix.co.nz
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