Wine Show announces two new innovations

Press Release 18th May 2007

The New Zealand International Wine Show announces two new innovations for the 2007 competition

Entry details and two new innovative events have been confirmed by the organisers of the 2007 New Zealand International Wine Show. With entries in 2006 exceeding 2100 wines, the New Zealand International Wine Show became the largest wine judging event ever held in New Zealand and one of the largest international wine competitions in Australasia.

Show Convenor Kingsley Wood says that this year’s show promises to be bigger still and as a consequence there is now a requirement for additional judging panels. “While the quality of senior judges is extremely high it is important to identify and develop new judging talent to service the ever increasing numbers of wines now being entered into the shows.”

Do you want to become a Wine Judge? The first innovation is a Wine Judging Evaluation Seminar, which is designed to provide an opportunity for aspiring wine judges to test their skills against a highly experienced senior judging panel.

Bob Campbell MW, Chief Judge for the New Zealand International Wine Show, will be joined by legendary winemakers Larry McKenna and John Hancock to take candidates through the judging process and test their palates on flights of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The primary incentives for candidates are associate judging positions at the 2007 New Zealand International Wine Show, the top candidate being allocated two days and the next four best performers each allocated one day as associate judges. The Wine Judging Evaluation Seminar will be held at the Spencer on Byron Hotel in Takapuna, Auckland on July 19th. Cost for the full day event is $195 with limited places available. The registration form is available at www.nziws.co.nz.

Public challenge with big reward The second innovation is to promote the wine show judging process to the public and to raise the profile of the New Zealand International Wine Show with a unique “Pick the Trophies” challenge. Kingsley Wood says, “the highlight of any wine competition is the announcement of the Trophies and this challenge will allow the public to taste all of the gold medal wines and make their own Trophy selection with the reward of a great prize.

“The Trophies are chosen by the judges during the actual competition judging but the identity of the Trophy winners remains a closely guarded secret until their announcement at the Awards Dinner on September 29th. Even the judges do not know which wines have been selected.”

The “challenge” is for people to attend a tasting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Auckland on September 25th of all the 100 plus gold medal wines and try and identify which wines will be announced as Trophy winners at the Awards Dinner. The prize for the person who selects the most number of Trophy winners is two airline tickets to Adelaide, accommodation for five days (Barossa / McLaren Vale), a rental car plus VIP visits to six selected wineries.

A draw will be made at the Awards Dinner if there is more than one person with the most number of correct Trophy picks.

2007 entries now open Entry forms and conditions for the 2007 New Zealand International Wine Show are now available from www.nziws.co.nz and www.wineshow.co.nz. Entries close 31st August 2007 with judging taking place on 11 – 13 September 2007. The Gala Awards Dinner will be held at the Sky City Convention Centre on Saturday 29th September 2007.

ENDS

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