April 29, 2010: New Zealand Wine Fair

The Time and Date: Thursday, April 29, 2010  1:30PM  – 5:30 PM
The Event: New Zealand Wine Fair in Toronto
The Venue: Design Exchange
The Target Audience: wine trade
The Availability/Catalogue: the catalogue was another model of
perfection, with all data of availability listed and contact details.
Good job with the spiral binding too.
The Quote/Background: One agent told me that women are lapping up pinot
grigio from wherever, but are stalling at pinot gris. It is all in a
word? Or maybe just the Italian light style?
The Wines: I decided to try the Pinot Gris, since they have the highest
percentage increase year over year. I also tried the off-beat wines
too. We had most of the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in a seminar.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Kumeu River Chardonnay Auckland 2007, $32.25
-Ostler Pinot Noir Waitaki 2006, $50
-Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Gris Wairapara 2009, $22.95
-Lawson's Dry Hills Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2008, $18.45
-Ngatarawa Alwyn Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2007, $24.95
-Spy Valley Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2008, $19.95
-Envoy by Spy Valley Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2007, $31.95
-Staete Landt Chardonnay Marlborough 2008, $37.95
-Vinoptima Gewurztraminer Gisborne 2006, $55

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Waimea Chardonnay Nelson 2008, $19.99
-Crossroads Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2008, $19.95
-Borthwick Vineyard Pinot Noir Wairarapa 2008, $34.95
-Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough 2008, $64.99
-Felton Road Pinot Noir Central Otago 2008, $66.95
-Pegasus Bay Winery Pinot Noir Waipara 2007, $46.95
-Churton Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008, $19.95 Merchant Vintner
-Churton Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007, $33.95 Merchant Vintner
-Coopers Creek Single Vineyard Hawke's Bay Chardonnay The Limeworks
2008, $19.95
-Gibbston Highgate Estate Heartbreakers Chardonnay Central Otago 2008,
$24.95
-Hawkshead Pinot Gris Central Otago 2009, $27
-Jackson Estate Shelter Belt Chardonnay Marlborough 2008, $20.95
-Saint Clair Family Marlborough Chardonnay 2008, $16.95
-Sileni Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2009, $14.95
-Southbank Estate Gewurztraminer Hawke's Bay 2007, $17.95
-Spy Valley Riesling Marlborough 2008, $19.95
-Envoy by Spy Valley Pinot Gris Marlborough 2008, $29
-Envoy by Spy Valley Chardonnay Marlborough 2007, $37
-Envoy by Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007, $43.95

 

-Staete Landt Pinot Gris Marlborough 2009, $37.95
-Stoneleigh Pinot Gris Marlborough 2009, $16.95
-Stoneleigh Rapaura Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2009, $22.95
-Te Awa Left Field Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2009, $22.
-Te Kairanga Martinborough Estate Chardonnay 2007, $16.50
-Spinyback Chardonnay Nelson 2008, $15.95
-Waimea Chardonnay Nelson 2008, $17.95

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Stoneleigh Chardonnay Marlborough 2008, $16.95
-Vidal Estate Pinot Noir Hawke's Bay 2008, $29
-Neudorf Vineyards Pinot Noir Nelson 2008, $27
-Carrick Chardonnay Central Otago 2007, $33
-The Crossings Pinot Noir Marlborough 2008, $18.95
-Ata Rangi Petrie Chardonnay Martinborough 2008, $25.99
-Coopers Creek Unoaked Chardonnay Gisborne 2008, $16.95
-Babich Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon Hawke's Bay 2008, $17.95
-Coopers Creek Gisborne Viognier 2008, $18.95
-Elephant Hill Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2009, $21.95
-Elephant Hill Merlot Hawke's Bay 2009, $19.95
-Gibbston Highgate Estate Dreammaker Pinot Gris Central Otago 2008,
$24.95
-Highfield Estate Chardonnay Marlborough 2008, $29.95
-Konrad Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2009, $18.25
-Mud House Pinot Gris South Island 2009, $15.95
-Nautilus Estate Chardonnay Marlborough 2008, $24.95
-Omaka Springs Estates Falveys Chardonnay Marlborough 2008, $24.95
-Wairau River Chardonnay Marlborough 2009, $17.95
-Sileni Estate Selection The Triangle Merlot Hawke's Bay 2008, $19.95
-Southbank Estate Pinot Grigio Hawke's Bay 2008, $17.65
-Te Awa Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Hawke's Bay 2009, $25
-Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling Marlborough 2008, $15.95

 

The Food: the media got a seminar and a gourmet sandwich luncheon. The
trading floor got mini-pavlovas, international and Quebec cheeses
(including Blue Benedictine), other sweets, coffees, breads and
crackers.
The Downside: I had to go to a concert, so I arrived late and only
tasted half the wines that I normally do.
The Upside: the New Zealand wine industry wants to be 100% sustainable
by 2012.
The Contact Person: nzwine@ketchin.com
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 91.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com