Pinot Noir reigns in high-end NZ hospitality
Pinot Noir might be dwarfed by Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand sales data, but in high end hospitality it's king, says Master of Wine Stephen Wong.
I am... Co-owner and Winemaker at Te Whare Ra in Marlborough, a member of the New Zealand Winegrowers Brand Committee, and a massive advocate for the quality and depth of the New Zealand Pinot Noir offering. A 6th generation winegrower, I first fell in love with Pinot while working with fruit from the Yarra Valley and Tasmania. I knew that wherever I went next, Pinot had to be part of the plan. I am loving being part of the Pinot 2025 production, working alongside a passionate group of Pinot advocates from our industry, reconnecting New Zealand Pinot with each other and the world.
Our committee... is really excited by the programme we are putting together for Pinot 2025. It will be a chance to welcome the world back to Aotearoa, to reconnect with them, and to give them a deep dive into all the latest Pinot Noir happenings from this part of the world. The themes of Pinot 2025 delve into the intrinsic values of our industry, from our place and our people, and how this crafts our Pinot.
Our latest news is... we are 90% of the way into firming up the programme and speakers. We are confident that we have put something together that holds true to the vision of the Pinot Noir Bunch and all the work they put into the plans for Pinot 2021, while taking account of where the landscape for New Zealand Pinot will be in 2025. The programme aims to have something for everyone, with an inspiring line up of Kiwi and international visionaries. We have crafted three days of intellectual discussion and plenty of tasting to stimulate the senses.
We hope to see you there!
New Zealand Pinot is... world class!
