Top Wineries of New Zealand
Bannockburn producer Felton Road has been named Winery of the Year New Zealand 2024 by The Real Review, a list compiled by New Zealand wine critics Bob Campbell MW, Huon Hooke, and Stephen Wong MW.
"Some incredible wines have been made in New Zealand in the past few years and visitors are in for a real treat as these are all opened at the event," says Event Director Rob Elliott.
Winetopia will be held 16-17 June in Wellington's TSB Arena, and 21-22 July in Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre, which Rob says is a larger venue to meet demand for the event. "This allows us to provide a quality experience for more visitors, while also growing the entertainment and culinary offering at the event."
There's an "exciting" presenter line-up including Australian writer and wine critic Mike Bennie and A Seat at the Table filmmaker and wine educator David Nash at the Wellington event, alongside writer Joelle Thomson and Stephen Wong MW. The Auckland event's Gaggenau Sommeliers Sessions feature chef demonstrations paired with wine matches, and will include sommelier Jeremy Ellis of Masu, writer Mermaid Mary (Mary-Therese Blair) and reviewer Candice Chow, among others.
Trying and discovering new wines remains the number one reason people come to Winetopia, and continued winery diversification means there is even more for wine lovers to explore this winter, Rob says. Red wines from the 2020 grape harvest benefited from ideal growing conditions, even if picking was challenging for many as it coincided with the country's first Covid-19 lockdown, he adds. "Many of these wines will be released at the Winetopia events and this will provide a great opportunity for lovers of Pinot Noir, Syrah, and red blends." The 2021 and 2022 vintages have produced varying yields and offer customers a chance to explore what differing weather conditions offer to the resulting wines across wine regions, including upcoming varieties such as Albariño, Grüner Veltliner and white blends.
There is a strong line-up of Hawke's Bay winegrowers impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle this year, and Winetopia will include fundraising activities for the Hawke's Bay Winegrowers Cyclone Relief Appeal, adding to the $28,778 already raised through the Wine for the Bay promotion.
16-17 June - Wellington
21-22 July - Auckland
