30 September 2013

Burgundy Great Attending Central Otago Pinot Celebration

The Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration held in January 2014 will be immensely richer for the presence of one of Burgundy’s greats. Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, will attend the celebration as the spearhead of a delegation seeking recognition of Burgundy’s vineyards as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

His presence has winemakers of the area buzzing with excitement. Jen Parr of Terra Sancta and Chair of the 2014 Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration said: Aubert de Villaine is a tremendous inspiration to us all and his desire to visit Central Otago and participate in our signature event is an incredible way to mark our 10th Celebration and is a great testament to how far Central Otago has come in the international Pinot Noir community in such a short space of time.

Wanaka winegrower, Nick Mills of Rippon who had a stint at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in 2002, said “Aubert is one of the most erudite, articulate and respected figures in the wine industry, yet what strikes you most, and almost immediately about his character, is the warmth and humility with which he approaches his craft and the people around him.”

English wine publication Decanter awarded Aubert de Villaine the Man of the Year award in 2010; a title bestowed not just for his achievements at the domaine, but “his complete integrity and his willingness to involve himself in the wider community.”

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti makes some of the world’s most excruciatingly rare and expensive wines, including La Romanée-Conti itself and La Tâche. La Romanée-Conti is considered by most to be Burgundy’s greatest vineyard site, its wines having reached almost mythical status.

Whilst luminaries of the wine and food world will gather in Queenstown for the Celebration, the focus is on entertaining all wine lovers: "The amazing feel of this event is derived from the diversity of people who come from all over the world to Celebrate distinctive Pinot Noir grown in one of the most magical places on earth by people with endless passion and energy and the Celebration attendees are a special part of our energy."

Forty of Central Otago’s producers will be opening their Pinot Noirs for all wine lovers over the 3 days of the Pinot Celebration from January 30 to February 1st.

Registrations are open and available at the website www.pinotcelebration.co.nz

Central Otago Pinot Noir Ltd (COPNL)

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