27 May 2009
International heavyweights on agenda for national red wine forums
Hawke’s Bay’s reputation as the red wine centre of New Zealand was further cemented when Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc. was asked to prepare a national symposium for Syrah again in 2010, and decided to combine that with a Cabernet Merlot Forum to provide growers, winemakers and industry with a full two-day educational programme.
Among the guest presenters are a number of international industry experts who will address the expected 200 attendees from around the country and Australia, over the two days of January 29 and 30 next year.
One of the most noted is Professor Kees van Leeuwen, head of the vine encophysiology laboratory at ENITA – Bordeaux University. His research deals with the terroir effect in viticulture, with particular focus on the positive effect of mild environmental stress (water, nitrogen) on grape quality potential. He will be presenting a case study on Cheval Blanc at the NZ Cabernet Merlot Forum on Friday January 29.
Rhone Valley expert, John Livingstone-Learmonth will be a feature speaker at the NZ Syrah Symposium on Saturday 30 January. A respected and much publicised writer who has covered the wines of this French red wine district since 1973, Mr Livingstone-Learmonth will be presenting a tutored tasting of six Rhone reds.
The two days will be held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House, with a comparative tasting also there early on the Friday evening. This will feature tastings of Hawke’s Bay red wines against Bordeaux, Australia and other noted red wine regions around the world. Following that a dinner with Hawke’s Bay’s winemakers and producers will be held on the Friday evening for all delegates.
Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc. Chairman Rod McDonald said that interest in the Hawke’s Bay region and its red wine prowess was increasing. “The success of Hawke’s Bay’s Gimblett Gravels wines in a blind tasting against top Bordeaux wines in London recently has lifted the profile of this region as a red wine producer of note. We are expecting the international media and trade to be keen to come and see and taste for themselves.”
Registrations for the two days will open in September 2009.
