Wine Options as we know it is signing off

2nd March 2012

Wine Options, as New Zealand has known, it is signing off. 30 years is enough!

This year, Wine Options as we know it, will end. This is the world's largest continuous wine options competition and after 30 consecutive years Chairman Kingsley Wood is calling an end to wine options on this scale.

On July 1st 2012 there is an opportunity for teams who have taken part in some of the great years of wine options to see the event off in style.

The very first Wine Options National Final was won by the Dunedin Wine Lovers No2 team - Kay Morganty, Dave Pilgrim, Norman Chan and Michael Frawley. Kay still competes in wine options - she has missed just one event and has been in the winning team on six occasions.

Already there is a lot of interest from teams in Wellington, Christchurch, Napier and Dunedin to get their crew back together and gather for one last time. There will almost certainly be plenty of interest from Queenstown and Invercargill so put July 1st in your Diary - Auckland is going to be the place to be.

In respect of the Wine Options, these are the basic facts.
• First National Final in Christchurch in 1983 - Wilson Neil Ltd.
• It changed to the Liquorland Wine Options in 1990 then became the First Glass Options in 2001
• The biggest year was in 1991 when 101 teams took part in Auckland - 404 competitors and 350 spectators.
• Over the past 5 years the average number of teams competing is around 50.
• The format has changed over the years from the very serious classroom style seating with no talking to full team participation on every question with plenty of talking and suggestions, It's now a relaxed, informal and thoroughly enjoyable event.
Many people developed a keen interest in wine after their introduction to the Wine Options competition. For many it was a chance to taste wines that they would never have purchased and for others it was a chance to test their palates on wines that were in their cellars.

Although hundreds of winemakers have taken part, most of the 29 National Finals have been won by keen amateurs or enthusiastic consumers.

This year's Final will herald an end to 30 years of wine options events being conducted on a major scale. This is a chance for people to relive their memories – one last time.

The venue is the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Albert Street, Auckland CBD.

Entry forms and a copy of the rules can be downloaded from www.firstglass.co.nz

ENDS

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