The wine world and his wife will descend on Wellington next week for the country’s three-yearly Pinot Noir love-in. It’s New Zealand’s chance to show what’s so great about the country’s most-planted red grape in its own backyard. This is the fourth time journalists, winemakers and pinot lovers have converged on the country’s windy capital for four days of fresh-idea-filled forums and after hour’s fun.
But what makes New Zealand Pinot Noir so interesting that it is worthy of a four-day conference? Well, when it’s good, it’s very very good – my hat goes off to wineries including Rippon Estate in Wanaka, and Martinborough producers Escarpment and Ata Rangi, that have consistently delivered Pinots the country can be proud of. But when it’s not good, New Zealand Pinot Noir is a dry red wine that is easy to drink but not something you’d want to go and champion as the country’s finest.
Since the first Pinot Noir conference in 2001, the country’s vines have had time to mature. Today, many of the country’s Pinot Noir vines are reaching a decent level of maturity and thus the fruit they are producing is getting better, and will continue to improve. There’s also better vine material, a better understanding of what works and where plus a greater understanding of how to treat this noble variety.
The country’s winemakers are also getting more mature in their attitudes towards Pinot Noir. While the fruit-forward drink-me now Pinot Noirs have been commercially successful, they haven’t shown the elegance nor finesse that you find in the best Pinot Noir. But the country’s winemakers have been running trials and symposiums in a bid to refine the wines and it is an exciting time to be following their progress.
So, if you’re in Wellington between January 28 and 31, chances are you’ll see many of the country’s leading winemakers and a smattering of the world’s top wine journalists in Pinot-mode. More likely, they’ll be seen after hours in a bar around Cuba Street or Courtenay Place, drinking and dancing – some until dawn. My advice for those wishing to get to the end of the conference in one piece? Nothing good happens after midnight!
***Venue Change at Aromatics Symposium in Nelson***
Organisers of the Nelson International Aromatics Symposium 2013 say the event will go ahead next weekend in spite of yesterday’s devastating fire at the Moutere Hills Community Centre, where the event was to be held.
The Nelson Wineart event has been held at the Moutere Hills Community Centre since 2007.
Symposium Chairman Patrick Stowe, of Rimu Grove Winery, said the organising committee was devastated to hear the news of yesterday’s fire. Arrangements have been made to relocate the symposium to Seifried Estate’s Restaurant and Function Centre.
