NZ Winegrowers sets indies Pinot prize challenge

New Zealand Winegrowers is challenging independent UK retailers to create the best New Zealand Pinot Noir marketing campaign for the chance to win a trip to the Pinot Noir NZ Celebration in Wellington next year.

The next Pinot Noir NZ Celebration takes place in Wellington in January 2017

Billed as “the best Pinot Noir event on the planet”, the three-day Pinot Noir NZ Celebration brings together media, trade and enthusiasts from around the world to New Zealand’s capital to learn about what makes New Zealand Pinot Noir so special.

Maynard James Keenan, frontman of US metal band Tool and now a winemaker in Arizona, will be the keynote speaker at the event, which takes place at Wellington Waterfront from 31 January to 2 February 2017.

Previous speakers include Hollywood actor and winemaker Sam Neill of Two Paddocks in Central Otago, who opened the conference in 2013.

New Zealand wine marketing organisation New Zealand Winegrowers winegrowers is offering two trips to the event to independent retailers who can demonstrate “market-leading Pinot promotion skills”, by running a stand-out New Zealand Pinot Noir promotion across at least two weeks in September 2016.

Entry to the competition is free and to be eligible retailers must stock at least three New Zealand Pinot Noirs from at least two different regions.

A panel of independent judges will look for innovative campaigns that “educate consumers in a fresh new way” and “raise awareness of the quality of New Zealand Pinot Noir”, a statement from New Zealand Winegrowers said.

The winners will be chosen based on the creativity and effectiveness of their campaign, as well as on uplifts in sales of New Zealand Pinot Noir.

“We are delighted to bring back our popular Independent Retailers promotion and by offering such an exclusive prize, we hope many independent retailers will get involved,” said Chris Stroud, New Zealand Winegrowers marketing manager for Europe.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for retailers to increase their New Zealand range of wines, add value to their business and potentially win the wine trip of a lifetime.”

New Zealand Winegrowers is offering participants digital imagery and information, and limited POS materials. Retailers can contact cstroud@nzwine.com to discuss materials available.

For further information, terms and conditions, and to register, click here.

New Zealand wine exports reached a record high of $1.54 billion in 2015, up 14% on the previous year, according to New Zealand Winegrowers.

New Zealand wine is exported to more than 90 countries and is New Zealand’s sixth-largest export good.