Bob Campbell MW to host NZ Cellar wine course

New Zealand wine critic and author Bob Campbell MW is to host a first-of-its-kind one-day wine course in collaboration with The New Zealand Cellar.

Bob Campbell MW will host an all-day New Zealand wine course in London on 23 April (Photo: New Zealand Cellar)

To be held at New Zealand House in Haymarket, London, on Saturday 23 April, from 10am-4pm, the event is being billed as a celebration of the finest food and drink from New Zealand.

The all-day course is to be catered for by Anna Hansen’s The Modern Pantry. The subjects that will be covered on the day include New Zealand wine-making history; the implementation of sustainable viticulture and pathway toward organic winemaking; and the closure revolution that lead to the widespread adoption of screw caps and the country’s rapid growth in wine production.

The course will also have a particular focus on regionality, a statement from The New Zealand Cellar said, with Campbell providing his own personal analysis of the subjects covered over the course of the day.

“The New Zealand Cellar is the UK’s most exciting gateway to the rich world of New Zealand Wines, and as such has secured one of New Zealand’s best respected wine critics for a day’s tasting,” said Melanie Brown, founder of The New Zealand Cellar. 

“This one day-only course will divulge the intricacies of the New Zealand wine industry whilst highlighting New Zealand’s most iconic wines, wineries and regions.  

“Bob’s profound knowledge and expertise undoubtedly makes him the most respected and recognised New Zealand wine writer of all time, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to London.

“His unique approach will ensure the course is informative and intuitive. Coupled with The Modern Pantry catering lunch, we are set for a day of complete New Zealand wine happiness!” 

Restricted to 45 guests, the event is being presented as an opportunity for wine enthusiasts to garner knowledge on the industry and test their tasting ability with a range of New Zealand’s best wines.

The course will be illustrated with a range of top New Zealand wines in a variety of styles and will include a light lunch. Tickets for the event cost £150 and have almost sold out, said Brown. 

Wines that will be available to taste include: Dog Point, Section 94, Marlborough; Coopers Creek, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough; Kalex, Pisa Riesling, Central Otago; Millton, Riverpoint Gewürztraminer, Gisborne; Alpha Domus, Chardonnay, Hawke’s Bay; Neudorf, Moutere Chardonnay, Nelson; Main Divide, Pinot Gris, North Canterbury; Ata Rangi, Pinot Noir, Wairarapa; Felton Road, Bannockburn Pinot Noir, Central Otago; Craggy Range, Gimblett Gravels Syrah, Hawke’s Bay; Man O’ War, Ironclad Bordeaux Blend, Auckland; Seresin, Viognier, Marlborough; Trinity Hill, Tempranillo, Hawke’s Bay; Nautilus, Brut Cuvée, Marlborough.

Originally an online wine specialist, The New Zealand Cellar has been operating from its own retail space in Pop Brixton since last year.

The drinks business reported in April 2015 how the company had become the drinks industry’s latest crowdfunding success story, breaking through its £35,000 target to open the retail space within five days.

Founder Melanie Brown worked in the London restaurant industry for eight years during which she played a fundamental role in developing The Providores and Tapa Room wine list to offer the largest selection of premium New Zealand wines in Europe.

Consumer interest in New Zealand wine is going from strength to strength at the moment, with New Zealand Winegrowers reporting record export figures of £690m in 2015.

The UK market for New Zealand wine grew 12% last year to £171 million.