From 31 January – 2 February 2017, Pinot 2017 brings together from across New Zealand and the world, the very wines, people and places that benchmark New Zealand Pinot Noir, now and in the future.
This 3-day event will take you on a virtual road trip throughout New Zealand, discovering provenance in a nation of pinot noir producers spread throughout our land. A road trip navigated by world class keynotes, cutting edge opinion and robust discussion, all to a backdrop of New Zealand cuisine, film, music and tastings, tastings, tastings.
This will be your one on one journey to discover Generation NZ.
The final programme has been released. Click here to download the full programme or view below.
Day 1: Embrace – Getting up Close and Personal
Tuesday 31 January 2017
8.30am – 10.30am
Welcome to Pinot Noir New Zealand 2017
Opera House, 111/113 Manners Street
Pinot Noir NZ 2017 begins in traditional New Zealand fashion.
Ben Glover – Chair Pinot Noir NZ 2017
Turangawaewae
Exploring Turangawaewae – the place or places we feel especially empowered and connected to. They are our foundation, our place in the world, our home. If it’s a question of Pinot Noir, it’s also a question of Turangawaewae.
Rachel Taulelei – CEO, Kono NZ, Tohu Wines
Dame Anne Salmond – Distinguished Professor, New Zealander of the Year
Nick Mills – Rippon
10.30am – 11.15am
Intermission created by Al Brown
In true theatre style, a short sharp break to rehydrate, and then on with the show!
11.15am – 12.45pm
The Pinot Noir Road Map – an Exploration of New Zealand’s Pinot Noir
Community Opera House, 111/113 Manners Street
The true nature of New Zealand Pinot Noir as told by us all. Get the juice. Kiwi on Kiwi.
Larry McKenna – Escarpment
Francis Hutt – Carrick
Lynnette Hudson – Tongue in Groove
Sarah Kate Dineen – Maude Wines
Hatsch Kalberer – Fromm
1.00pm – 2.30pm
Lunch – Sit Down with Us – created by Al Brown
Pinot Pavilion, Odlins Plaza, Wellington Waterfront
Fresh kiwi flavours with a focus on the food you’d find if you were visiting our homes and summer baches.
2.30pm – 5.30pm
The Pinot Noir Road Trip (three simultaneous sessions)
Over the next three days, you will taste and travel the virtual length of New Zealand. Your tasting road trip around our Pinot regions starts at one of three locations. Meet your maker and define New Zealand Pinot Noir.
This session is all about discovering the essential markers of New Zealand Pinot Noir – the connections to our country through our wines and stories. A free flowing tasting session, one-on-one with producers, providing unparalleled and unique access.
Road Trip 1: Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, North Canterbury, Michael Fowler Centre
Road Trip 2: Nelson, Marlborough, Mac’s Brewery
Road Trip 3: Waitaki, Central Otago, Te Papa
5.30pm – 10.30pm
Welcome Event – Kia Ora, the Bounty of our Land and Oceans
Pinot Pavilion, Odlins Plaza, Wellington Waterfront
We kick things off in true kiwi style, with home grown craft beer and a selection of our finest wines. The evening showcases Wellington’s kingpin chefs, who come together to create food we typically share with loved ones. The bounty of our land and oceans.
Day 2: Explore – an Exploration of Greatness
Wednesday 1 February 2017
8.30am – 10.45am
International Pinot Noir Tasting
TSB Arena, 4 Queens Wharf
Exploration into what defines ‘greatness’ or ‘quality’ in a wine – is there a universal ideal – is it possible? The international panel will illustrate and qualify what they see as key attributes of quality and greatness in wine. Taste their selected wines and ask them why.
Moderator: Helen Masters – Ata Rangi
International Panel: Jancis Robinson OBE MW, Mike Bennie, Kenichi Ohashi MW, Marcel Giesen – Bell Hill/Giesen
10.45am – 11.25am
Smoko – created by Graham Brown
Morning Tea the Kiwi way
11.25am – 12.50pm
Pinosthesia – Appreciating Pinot in the multisensory environment
TSB Arena, 4 Queens Wharf
An immersive multisensory experience that shows how sound can shape impressions of wine quality; not only priming thoughts and emotions, but also changing the way we perceive it to taste.
Jo Burzynska – Wine Writer, Sonic Artist
Aspiring to be kick ass – A Quality Workshop
A working discussion with the worlds’ leading wine commentators, sommeliers, and influencers. How many paradigms exist, what’s valid, what’s not. Time to get amongst it.
An intimate workshop where you can discuss and share the ideals of greatness in a small group setting.
Moderated by Blair Walter – Felton Road, and Jane Skilton MW
1.00pm – 2.30pm
Lunch – From Here to There – created by Graham Brown
Pinot Pavilion, Odlins Plaza, Wellington Waterfront
Guest chef Graham Brown explores many guises and examples of a Pinot Noir culinary BFF, the sustainably farmed, grass-fed glory of New Zealand venison.
2.30pm – 5.30pm
The Pinot Noir Road Trip Continues (three simultaneous sessions)
Taste and travel the virtual length of New Zealand, on the second of your three road trips.
Meet your maker and define New Zealand Pinot Noir. Today we explore greatness. Our wineries put forward their finest wines to date. Taste these wines directly with those who made them. Another free-flowing tasting session, one-on-one with producers, providing unparalleled and unique access
Road Trip 1: Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, North Canterbury, Michael Fowler Centre
Road Trip 2: Nelson, Marlborough, Mac’s Brewery
Road Trip 3: Waitaki, Central Otago, Te Papa
7.00pm – Midnight
Banquet Aotearoa
TSB Bank Arena, 4 Queens Wharf
Get your glad rags on for some of New Zealand’s finest food, wine and entertainment. A sit-down Hakari (banquet) encompassing all that is great about the influence of multi-culturalism on our national cuisine.
Day 3: Evolve – the Future of New Zealand Pinot Noir
Thursday 2 February 2017
8.30am – 10.00am
The Future – what will our evolution look like in search of Turangawaewae
Opera House, 111/113 Manners Street
What are we all doing to reach our own ideals? Just how progressive are we, and are we being true to ourselves and our land in these searches for Turangawaewae.
Session Chair: Emma Jenkins MW
Claudia Weersing – Pyramid Valley, Anna Flowerday – Te Whare Ra, Sam Neill – Two Paddocks, Maynard James Keenan – Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards
10.00am – 10.45am
Intermission created by Josh Emett
Opera House, 111/113 Manners Street
In true theatre style, a short sharp break to rehydrate, and then on with the show!
10.45am – 12.45pm
New Generation, New World
Opera House, 111/113 Manners Street
Discover the threads to our future. A progression of our Pinot Noir community and how its evolution will be shaped moving forward.
Emma Jenkins MW , Dom Maxwell – Greystone, Michael Brajkovich MW – Kumeu River Wines, Jancis Robinson OBE MW, Stephen Wong MW, Andrea Frost, Elaine Chukan Brown
It’s a wrap.
Ben Glover, Chair Pinot Noir NZ 2017
1.00pm – 2.30pm
Lunch – Contemporary New Zealand Cuisine – created by Josh Emett
Pinot Pavilion, Odlins Plaza, Wellington Waterfront
Guest Chef Josh Emett is charged with peering into the kiwi culinary looking glass and translating his views on where the future and direction of New Zealand food is heading
2.30pm – 5.30pm
The Pinot Noir Road Trip (three simultaneous sessions)
Taste and travel the virtual length of New Zealand, on your third and final road trip.
Meet your maker and define New Zealand Pinot Noir. Today we explore the Pinot Noir of our future. Possibly the most unique tasting of the celebration, your chance to get a first-look in at the new wines of tomorrow.
See new releases, new discoveries before all others. These are the wines that are pushing the boundaries of New Zealand Pinot Noir.
Your final free-flow tasting session, one-on-one with producers. A session that provides unparalleled and unique access.
Road Trip 1: Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, North Canterbury, Michael Fowler Centre
Road Trip 2: Nelson, Marlborough, Mac’s Brewery
Road Trip 3: Waitaki, Central Otago, Te Papa
7.00pm – LATE
The Grand Finale – Haere Rā
Pinot Pavilion, Odlins Plaza, Wellington Waterfront
Our chance to send you off with a fitting farewell buoyed with what we are thinking and doing over the next four years until our next Pinot Noir event. We kick off with a taste of the next evolution in beer from Garage Project. It’s Pinot Noir party time. Eat, drink, mingle, dance and farewell friends.
Click here to download the full programme.
