Blog

Subscribe via emailSubscribe via RSS

One of my favourite speeches at Pinot Noir NZ 2013 was that of Ned Goodwin MW. He spoke about his life as an analogy of Pinot Noir. It was an important comment and a continuing thread in a message about authenticity and being true to oneself. The more I read his speech, the more I get out of it. So much so, I thought it deserved it's own post. So here it is in it's original form: NZ Pinot Noir Conference: Vulnerability Breeds Adaptability Honoured to speak in front of so...

The 2013 New Zealand Pinot Noir vintage is underway so we thought we'd share some of the stories and pictures of Pinot Noir NZ 2013. Day One Pinot Noir NZ 2013 Start out as you mean to continue. The first day of Pinot Noir NZ 2013 certainly delivered the food for thought needed to sustain us through the following three days of the conference. The theme for the day was ‘definitions’. It began with a traditional maori welcome or Powhiri which reminded us why we had gathered and what the ‘rules...

We're so close to Pinot Noir NZ 2013 you can smell the Pinot from here. Great opportunity to hear what it means to be a winery involved. This from Phil Handford from Grasshopper Rock...... There is a lot of excitement and anticipation as we enter the last few days before the Pinot Celebration. There are great expectations building around the event which is held every three years. In 2010 Grasshopper Rock had its first year as a participating winery. 2013 will be our second event. The 2013 event, with over 100...

Another fabulous article by Curtis Marsh from the Wandering Palate. I love the way he considers the nuances of both the food and wine, and how they work together to tell a story. Mutuality and cohesiveness indeed! Last November, 2012, the Family of Twelve, www.familyoftwelve.co.nz a fraternity of 12 of New Zealand’s most successful and enduring artisanal private winemakers visited Singapore. I had the privilege of organizing their programme titled “Twelve reasons to get excited about New Zealand Wines”, which was thoroughly action-packed, as detailed in F12 member, Nigel Greening’s account...

Here's a great interview by Nick Stock with a couple of NZ wine’s Pinot Noir characters. He introduces some of the interesting discussions that will be had about regionality and the hand of the winemaker at Pinot Noir NZ 2013. We’re looking forward to your input next January Nick!

I cut my vinous teeth in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. It’s a wine region where 120 year old Riesling vines hold up a single wire trellis, centennial bush vines mark time on terraces and Cabernet blocks are picked each year off the ground, the vines having given up their vertical ways with age. For that reason one of my first impressions of the New Zealand wine industry was how young it was. I still think that’s true. However, a recent conversation with Nick Mills from Rippon in Central Otago made...

At the last Pinot Noir New Zealand event, held in 2010, Ata Rangi in Martinborough and Felton Road in Central Otago were each given the title of “Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa”. It translates from Maori as “Great Growth of New Zealand” or “Grand Cru”. Alastair Maling, MW and Chairman of Pinot Noir 2010, presented the award at the final dinner and said: “The Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa award recognises those who have taken time and shown skill and commitment in evolving and developing New Zealand Pinot Noir. They are widely...

It's all on! New Zealand Pinot Noir has a title to defend. Not your ordinary wine show title but instead Pinot Noir Social Media Masters of the Universe sort of title. This Thursday September 6th from 12:05am until 11:55pm all you need to do is use the hashtag #PinotSmackDown together with #nz or #nzwine in any form of social media (eg:Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram) and you can contribute to the cause. Perfect reason to open a bottle of New Zealand Pinot Noir, we reckon. Obviously we'd also love it...

Our Great New Zealand Pinot Noir Photo Competition saw over 150 photos entered from around the country, and with only six months until the Pinot Noir NZ event it seemed a great time to announce the winners. All the photos are a great reflection of how much hard work & passion goes into making New Zealand Pinot Noir. At the end of the day though, there could be just one winner, and the honour goes to Schubert Wines in Martinborough. Judge Tim Atkin MW had this to say about the...

Turning Heads in America. This week we hear from the USA, where the lovely Complexity team share their thoughts on the NZ Pinot Noir market. COMPLEXITY – New Zealand Fine Wine is a NZTE and winery funded initiative focused on establishing the credentials of our nation’s fine wine in the US. With a portfolio of impressive wines they showcase hero wines and winemakers at exclusive dinners, tastings and masterclasses in New York, Chicago, California and Texas. We thought we’d some brief thoughts on the perception of New Zealand Pinot Noir...