If you’re in Auckland this weekend and like wine, come on down to the first-ever Wine AKL. It’s a consumer-focused wine show with 60 wineries participating, hundreds of wines to try and free classes.
I’ll be there on both Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, hosting 20-minute crash courses on emerging white varieties in New Zealand. Forget Sauvignon Blanc, I’ll be introducing you to Gruner Veltliner, Albarino and Viognier, hopefully expanding your vinous horizons. There’ll be a few laughs, a little bit of memorable info for you to bank and delicious wines I’ve picked out to show you.
While it’s an R18 event, I’ll also have my 4-week old son Macaulay with me, so there’ll be the opportunity for squidges! Nick Stock is heading over from Australia to run masterclasses, as well as Master of Wine Bob Campbell – they might let you give them a cuddle too, if you ask nicely!
Tickets are $25 in advance from iTicket.co.nz and that includes your first five wines.
PARTICIPATING WINERIES
Auckland & Northland: Villa Maria, Odyssey, Man O War, Karikari, Babich, Coopers Creek
Gisborne: Kirkpatrick
Martinborough: Ata Rangi, Escarpment
Hawke’s Bay: Mills Reef, Te Awa, Vidal, Esk Valley, Elephant Hill, Rod Mcdonald, Bilancia, Trinity Hill
Waipara: Sherwood Estate, Silver Wing, Pegasus Bay, Main Divide, Black Estate, Fancrest, Pyramid Valley
North Canterbury: Muddy Water
Central Otago: Thornbury, Mount Edward, Carrick, Maude, Prophets Rock, Mt Difficulty, Domain Road, Silver Fern Farms, Mount Michael
North Otago: Ostler
Marlborough: St Clair, Auntsfield Estate, Huia, Hunters, No.1 Family, Ara, Lawsons Dry Hills, Two Rivers, Fromm, Wise Owl, Summerhouse, Te Whare Ra, Marisco, Mud House, Nautilus
Nelson: Tohu, Neudorf, Kahurangi, Kina Beach
