Programme

Monday 28 January
Day 1: Definitions

7.00am

REGISTRATION OPENS [WELLINGTON TOWN HALL*]

8.30am

FOUR DAYS OF PINOT LOVE BEGINS [WELLINGTON TOWN HALL]

Pinot Noir NZ 2013 begins with a traditional Māori powhiri

Welcome: Alastair Maling MW
MC: Clive Weston

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Where Am I – Why Am I Here and What Am I Looking For? ...The Search for the Holy Grail

International Speaker: Matt Kramer

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Hello – My Name Is Sam – I Am a New Zealand Pinotphile
New Zealand Speaker: Sam Neill

10.15am

SMOKO: Morning Tea the Kiwi Way [PINOT MARQUEE]

10.45am

TIME TO MOVE: Regional Exploration [REGIONAL VENUES]

Over the next three days you will rotate through our New Zealand Pinot regions,
one region per day, with everyone coming together late afternoon to share a glass
of wine. Our winemakers will deliver the uncensored story of what goes on in their
home territory, and of course they will pull a few bottles for you to taste.

Region 1: Central Otago [MAC’S FUNCTION CENTRE]
Region 2: Marlborough [TE WHAREWAKA]
Region 3: Pioneers – Wairarapa, Nelson, North Canterbury/Waipara Valley [TE PAPA]

1.15pm

REGIONAL LUNCH: Sounds of Plenty - MARLBOROUGH [PINOT MARQUEE]

Today’s culinary source is Marlborough, home to New Zealand’s world famous salmon.

LUNCHTIME SPEAKER: Outside In – Markers, Pitfalls, Goals, and Understanding Where You Are – An outsider’s perspective of what some of the definitions of New Zealand Pinot Noir are, or might be.
International Speaker: Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

After lunch, please return to the same regional venue you were in for the morning session.

2.30pm

PINOT TALK [REGIONAL VENUES]

Time to throw some curly questions to the floor, and we will ask you to roll up your
sleeves and enter the debate. How do we define New Zealand Pinot Noir? How are we perceived and do we care? These and other questions will be asked.

We will be pouring some older vintages and experimental wines to “wet your
whistle” and loosen your inhibitions.

6.00pm
– Late

WELCOME EVENT: Smoke on the Water [PINOT MARQUEE]

The Capital’s best chefs trundle their barbeques down to the waterfront. Expect hot food from paddock and ocean and some totally hedonistic wines.

TUESDAY 29 JANUARY
Day 2: New Characters

8.00am

REGISTRATION OPENS [WELLINGTON TOWN HALL*]

9.00am

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Talk the Talk, Now Walk the Walk – How True Are You?
– How do we define ourselves currently? [WELLINGTON TOWN HALL]

International Speaker: Mike Bennie

10.45am

TIME TO MOVE: Regional Exploration [REGIONAL VENUES]

Continue to discover the Pinot producing regions of New Zealand. Today you rotate to your second allocated region. We put our winemakers creativity and vision for wine style on show. The regional journey continues – taste wines from the 2010 vintage from today’s region.

Region 1: Central Otago [MAC’S FUNCTION CENTRE]
Region 2: Marlborough [TE WHAREWAKA]
Region 3: Pioneers – Wairarapa, Nelson, North Canterbury/Waipara Valley [TE PAPA]

1.15pm

REGIONAL LUNCH: Southern Food Central Style – CENTRAL OTAGO [PINOT MARQUEE]

Today the culinary source is Central Otago – home of wild thyme, rabbits and apricots.

LUNCHTIME SPEAKER: Being All Things to All People – Finding Your Niche in a Strange Land – Asking how do we fit into our little world of Pinot Noir – can we wear different hats and still “fit”.

International Speaker: Ned Goodwin MW

After lunch, please return to the same regional venue you were in for the morning session.

2.30pm

THE CHARACTERS BEHIND PINOT: It’s Not Just About the Soil! [REGIONAL VENUES]

More questions from the floor and plenty of opinions. Do we just let regional styles dictate what we do? What is the role of a Winemaker? The rise of ‘everyone as a critic’ and our responsibility to get it right.

Wines will be poured to complement the session.

6.00pm
–9.00pm

THE VINTAGE PARTY: It Takes Great Beer to Make Great Wine [PINOT MARQUEE]

We pour kiwi craft beers alongside platters of salami, rye bread and pickles. We also release a special brew made for Pinot Noir NZ 2013 alongwith a few other surprises.

WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY
Day 3: New Depths

8.00am

REGISTRATION OPENS [WELLINGTON TOWN HALL*]

9.00am

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: How Can We Continue to Evolve?
– We talk of the land and speak of our search for a sense of place in our wines – where can we go to attain this from a viticultural perspective.[WELLINGTON TOWN HALL]

International Speaker: Emmanuel Bourguignon

10.45am

TIME TO MOVE: Regional Exploration [REGIONAL VENUES]

Continue to discover the Pinot producing regions of New Zealand. Today you rotate to your third and final allocated region to explore your region and taste wines from the 2010 Vintage.

Region 1: Central Otago [MAC’S FUNCTION CENTRE]
Region 2: Marlborough [TE WHAREWAKA]
Region 3: Pioneers – Wairarapa, Nelson, North Canterbury/Waipara Valley [TE PAPA]

1.15pm

REGIONAL LUNCH: Artisan Wine, Artisan Food from Martinborough/ Wairarapa, Nelson and Waipara Valley/North Canterbury Chosen to Match Their Celebrated Wines – PIONEERS [PINOT MARQUEE]

LUNCHTIME SPEAKER: Express Yourself – The Best Way You Don’t Know How. A Journey Into The Unknown – Styles, place, character – what expression should we be aiming for, and above all does the consumer really care?

International Speaker: Raj Parr

After lunch, please return to the same regional venue you were in for the morning session.

2.30pm

BACK TO THE FUTURE: Innovate or Stagnate? The Latest Innovations and the Freshest Thinking [REGIONAL VENUES]

Are you prepared to make mistakes? What is the true path to place, phenolics or fruit expression? Are we taking ourselves way too seriously? Are our consumers enjoying the ride?

5.30pm
–7.30pm

THE PINOT NOIR PUBLIC TASTING: Pinot Noir NZ 2013 Opens its Doors to Pinot Lovers for Casual Tasting of Wines from New Zealand’s Five Pinot Producing Regions [PINOT MARQUEE]

You are welcome to revisit producers or make it to the ones you missed

8.00pm
– Late

DINNER: Wellington Cooks [VARIOUS WELLINGTON RESTAURANTS]

A short stroll for a long dinner at the Capital’s finest restaurants.

THURSDAY 31 JANUARY
Day 4: Grand Finale

8.00am

REGISTRATION OPENS [WELLINGTON TOWN HALL*]

9.00am

9.55am

BURGUNDY TASTING INTRODUCTION: La Régionalité – What Do We Care? [WELLINGTON TOWN HALL]

Not a session contrived to further glorify the wines of Burgundy, nor to defend them. Here we will discuss the extent to which the notion of regionality exists in Burgundy; in its soils, in the hearts of its people and in the minds of those who drink it. With the assistance of our expert panelists and six exemplary wines, we aim to discover what factors drive and define the regional identity of Pinot Noir’s ancestral homeland and, importantly, to find what, if anything, we can learn for our own paths forward.

International Panel: Nick Mills (Chair), Matt Kramer, Marion Demossier, Emmanuel Bourguignon, Jasper Morris MW

11.00am

12.45pm

2.00pm
–5.00pm

NEW ZEALAND PINOT NOIR REGIONAL TASTING [WELLINGTON TOWN HALL]

A panel of our invited guests have selected 12 New Zealand Pinot Noirs from each of the New Zealand Pinot Noir regions, designed to amplify and focus all that has been presented over the first three days of Pinot Noir NZ 2013. A great chance to confirm and reinforce your discovery of the regional characteristics of New Zealand Pinot Noir. Our panel will discuss the merits of each wine and region ensuring your Pinot Noir NZ 2013 experience culminates with this tasting and leaves you a
New Zealand Pinot aficionado, fully prepared for a wonderful evening.

International Panel: Tim Atkin MW (Chair), Cameron Douglas MS, Rebecca Gibb, Philip Rich, Indra Kumar, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

7.00pm
– Late

THE GREAT PINOT PARTY: The Long Goodbye [TSB BANK ARENA]

Glad rags welcomed. Wind up the week with the best night out. You will be fed,
watered and entertained superbly.