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Pinot Noir New Zealand is back for 2025

21 August 2024 By Sarah Neish

In February 2025, Christchurch will welcome guests from around the world to an extraordinary celebration of New Zealand Pinot, the country’s leading red grape variety.

After an eight-year hiatus, Pinot Noir New Zealand – one of the biggest and most impressive celebrations of Pinot anywhere in the world – is back for 2025, with tickets now on sale. Established in 2001 to showcase the innovations behind New Zealand Pinot Noir on the world stage, the three-day event offers an opportunity to immerse oneself in this grape variety and all it can offer.

Between 11-13 February, 75 wineries from across New Zealand will present their very best Pinot Noirs, while leading experts will dive into discussions that explore the event’s key themes – Place, Care, and The Time to Come.

Visitors will learn about New Zealand’s land, its past and people, and how the country has been shaped by its ancestry, as well as how caring for the land is pivotal to the New Zealand wine community moving forward.

Panel discussions will explore subjects including guardianship of place and what it means to be Kaitiakitanga (a guardian), led by Makarini Rupene of Environment Canterbury, as well as how Pinot Noir winegrowers, merchants and wine communicators can contribute to this, with insight provided by scientist, explorer and conservationist Tim Flannery.

Wine author and lecturer Dr. Jamie Goode will consider regenerative viticulture, taking a close look at what New Zealand is doing to care and protect its Pinot vines for future generations. And forest health expert Mimi Casteel will ask how the fate of New Zealand’s natural world will be decided.

“It’s a great privilege to be among so many great leaders and masters of the craft to explore the things that matter most to great wine: guardianship, kinship, and intention”, says Casteel.

Inspiration and Aspiration

Two major guided tastings, ‘Inspiration’ and ‘Aspiration’, will feature eight wines selected and delivered by a panel of distinctive Pinot Noir producers.

Inspiration will present wines that inspired these New Zealand producers at the start of their journey, while Aspiration will show wines the panel is most proud of making, alongside wines they have discovered along the way and aspire to emulate.

The MC across the three-day event is Jesse Mulligan – stand-up comic, TV producer, writer, PR man, food reviewer, radio announcer and New Zealand wine fan. Plus, planning is underway for a public evening event, open to all, co-organised by Australian wine event Pinot Palooza.

“Since the very beginning, Pinot Palooza has been all about rewriting the rules of stuffy wine tastings and encouraging punters to just discover and explore wines they love – plus, it helps that we know how to throw a really good party,” says Dan Simms, Pinot Palooza founder.

For tickets to Pinot Noir New Zealand 2025 click here.

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