An astounding selection of global wine imbibers and influencers will descend on the nation’s capital this month for New Zealand’s most significant wine event, Pinot Noir NZ 2017.

The sold out event includes a line-up of 30 speakers from Japan, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, who are tasked with sparking thought-provoking discussions among 600 Pinot Noir lovers from 20 different countries.

Spearheading the line-up are the world’s most influential wine writer Jancis Robinson OBE, MW, the world’s only Master of Wine and Sake Ken Ohashi and Tool frontman and winery owner Maynard James Keenan.

The event will champion diverse communicators and innovative thought.  Wine writer and sonic artist Jo Burzynska will consider how wine can be enjoyed in a multi-sensory environment; renowned American writer Elaine Chukan Brown will explore the overall concept of future communication, and award-winning Australian Andrea Frost will discuss new styles of engagement and communication with wine lovers.

These global wine guru’s will be accompanied by a strong kiwi contingent to tell the New Zealand Pinot Noir story to the world. National treasures include New Zealander of the Year, Dame Anne Salmond, awarded for her contribution to New Zealand cultural history, and Rachel Taulelei, CEO of Kono NZ, one of the New Zealand’s food industry champions. Together they will talk about what binds us to our land and our connection to it over time.

Joining them will be four New Zealand Masters of Wine; Jane Skilton, Emma Jenkins and Michael Brajkovich, along with New Zealand’s newest MW Stephen Wong.

The event will be peppered with our own great Pinot Noir creators, including Larry McKenna, Blair Walter and winemaker/actor Sam Neill. They will evoke a home grown yet international perspective of New Zealand’s place in the world of wine, through the eyes of the Pinot Noir grape.

Pinot Noir NZ is held every four years, and will take place on the Wellington waterfront from 31^st January to 2^nd February. It has fast become one of the best Pinot Noir events on the planet, showcasing 115 wineries, with over 600 wines to 600 visionaries, industry leaders, influencers and pure lovers of Pinot Noir.

The sold out sign has gone up on New Zealand’s most significant wine event: Pinot Noir NZ 2017. The celebration, which attracts the world’s greatest wine minds and palates to Wellington from 31^st January until 2^nd February 2017, is at capacity with over 600 tickets snapped up. 

The line-up of keynote speakers is as impressive as it is diverse. It includes wine industry guru Jancis Robinson MW OBE, described as the most respected wine critic and journalist in the world, Grammy Award-winning Tool frontman and winemaker Maynard James Keenan, Japan’s sake and wine master Kenichi Ohashi MW,  and Australian wine provocateur Mike Bennie.  All up, over 25 international and homegrown heroes are contributing to the thought-provoking and innovative three day programme.

“This unprecedented interest bodes well for a mind-blowing few days of tasting, thinking, dreaming and talking Pinot Noir. Without a doubt this event will change how attendees see themselves with this variety” says Pinot Noir NZ 2017 Chair Ben Glover. “and with all our tickets being sold, it is the perfect Pinot Noir lock in!”.

For those who have missed out on tickets to Pinot Noir NZ 2017, all is not lost. The public can sample Pinot to their hearts’ content at Pinot Palooza – an event bringing its own unique Pinot Noir flavour to the capital city for the first time on 30^th January 2017. With 650 tickets available, it will now be the only way to immerse yourself in all of 115 Pinot’s from the wineries involved, all in one place. 

Tickets to Pinot Palooza start from $69, which includes all wine tastes and a Riedel glass valued at $35.  Click for further information.

With just 60 days until one of New Zealand’s most significant wine events – Pinot Noir NZ 2017, the lid has been lifted on an all-star line-up of New Zealand chefs putting food on the table alongside world class wines.

Al Brown, Graham Brown and Josh Emett will join Pinot Noir NZ’s culinary director – Wellington food legend Ruth Pretty MNZM.

Al Brown – the restaurateur behind Auckland eateries Depot and Federal Delicatessen, as well as the Montreal-style bagel factories Best Ugly Bagels, is guest chef on day one.

Graham Brown, guest chef for day two, is a huge food talent and one of the country’s top culinary ambassadors, having cooked for royalty and celebrities across the globe.

Guest chef on day three, Josh Emett, worked for Gordon Ramsay for over 10 years, and has judged Masterchef New Zealand since its start in 2011. He has a number of restaurants around the country; Rātā in Queenstown, Ostro in Britomart,  Auckland, and Madam Woo in Queenstown and Hamilton.

Ruth Pretty has been culinary director for Pinot Noir NZ since 2001, is a catering genius for crowds of any size, and has a terrific understanding of what it takes to create great food for Pinot lovers.

“An important part of this Pinot celebration has always been what happens after 5pm,” said chair Ben Glover. We’re really excited to be bringing some of New Zealand’s culinary heavyweights to the table, to deliver a gastronomic spark to Pinot Noir 2017.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase the very best in New Zealand food, along with our wines, to our guests from around the world”.

The event, which takes over the Wellington waterfront from 31^st January to 2^nd February next year has fast become one of the best Pinot Noir events on the planet. Each of the three days has a theme which will also be reflected in the food; Embrace-Explore-Evolve.

Registrations for Pinot Noir NZ 2017 have been unprecedented, with tickets nearly sold out. They can be booked here 

It’s just four months until the kick-off of one of New Zealand’s most significant wine events – Pinot Noir NZ 2017. The celebration, which attracts over 500 of the worlds greatest wine minds and palates, has nearly sold out.

The event which takes over the Wellington waterfront from 31^st January to the 2^nd February next year has fast become one of the best Pinot Noir events on the planet.

This celebration happens just once every four years, and brings together the wines, people and places that benchmark New Zealand Pinot Noir; there will be 117 wineries bringing over 600 wines to 500 visionaries, industry leaders, influencers and lovers of this variety.

The line-up of keynote speakers is as impressive as it is diverse. Wine industry heavyweights such as Jancis Robinson MW OBE, described as ‘the most respected wine critic and journalist in the world’, Grammy Award-winning Tool frontman and winemaker Maynard James Keenan, Japan’s sake and wine expert Kenichi Ohashi MW and Australian wine provocateur Mike Bennie will be in attendance. In total there are over 25 international and homegrown heroes contributing to the thought-provoking and innovative programme.

“It’s a critical time if you are thinking of attending” says event Chair Ben Glover. “Now is the time to act. We have a limited number of tickets left and once they’re gone, they’re gone. This event provides attendees with the people they want to meet, the connections they need to make, and the wine they need to taste, all in one place ”.