NZ tasting to showcase oaked Sauvignon for first time

The upcoming 35th Annual New Zealand Trade Tasting in London will showcase oak-influenced Sauvignon Blancs while promoting the diversity of the country’s flagship grape.

The 35th Annual New Zealand Trade Tasting aims to show the diversity of its flagship Sauvignon Blanc

Among its wine offerings, the tasting – the biggest of its kind in the world for New Zealand wines – will feature a ‘Discovery Table’ dedicated to oaked Sauvignon as part of organisers New Zealand Winegrowers’ efforts to show the diversity of the country’s flagship variety.

While New Zealand is well known for its vibrant, easy-drinking styles of Sauvignon Blanc matured in stainless steel, its oaked styles are less familiar to consumers.

The benefits of maturing Sauvignon Blanc in oak were emphasised by Richard Bampfield MW in an interview with the drinks business in November last year, Bampfield suggesting that oak might be required for the variety to reach its full potential as a fine wine grape.

“Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand’s main wine export, and with the inaugural International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration being held in Marlborough, New Zealand in February 2016, we wanted to recognise and showcase the incredible diversity within the variety,” said Chris Stroud, New Zealand Winegrowers’ marketing manager for Europe.

The London trade tasting will be held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in on 18 January. As well as focussing on the country’s flagship Sauvignon Blanc, the event will bring together a selection of reds from New Zealand’s celebrated 2013 vintage.

Visitors will have the chance to taste more than 500 wines from around 90 producers from across country’s wine-producing regions.

The event will also provide two masterclasses hosted by Peter McCombie MW. The first masterclass, entitled ‘The Changing Face of Sauvignon Blanc’, will focus on the diversity of Sauvignon Blanc varietal styles being produced in New Zealand. It will feature a wide range of styles including sparkling, lower-alcohol, oaked, wild yeast-fermented, organic and dessert.

A second masterclass will focus on wines from across New Zealand wine regions which have won major trophies in prominent UK wine competitions. Masterclass registration can only be done at reception on the day of the event.

The event will also feature two self-pour ‘Discovery Tables’. One table will focus on the already mentioned oak-influenced Sauvignon Blanc, showcasing the stylistic diversity and latest expressions of New Zealand’s flagship variety.

The second table will host New Zealand’s ‘Big Reds’, including a range of Syrah and red variety blends from the 2013 vintage – widely considered one of New Zealand’s finest.

The UK is currently the leading market for New Zealand wine with export volume up 10% in the latest MAT Export figures, published in November 2015.

The export value of New Zealand wine reached a record high last year and now stands at $NZ1.5 billion (£686m). New Zealand wine exports have increased by $NZ1bn (£457m) in the last 10 years. Wine is currently New Zealand’s sixth-biggest export good.

Those wishing to register for the trade tasting can do so here.