36th Southern Pinot Workshop Set for January 2027
The 36th Southern Pinot Workshop will be held from 20–22 January 2027.
9-11 August 2026
centralotagowine.co/initiatives/centralwineretreat
Designed for the wine trade, this three day programme gives a small group of guests the opportunity to explore Central Otago through its vineyards, wineries and the people behind them.
Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year
25 August
nzwine.com/en/initiativesevents
Winners of the regional competitions will compete at the national final in Wairarapa on 25 August, with the 2026 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year announced on 27 August.
Ormond Nurseries Young Viticulturist of the Year
26 August
nzwine.com/en/initiativesevents
Finalists from five regional Young Viticulturist of the Year competitions will go through to the 2026 Ormond Nurseries Young Viticulturist of the Year National Final in Wairarapa on 26 August, with the winner announced on 27 August.
Wine Business Forum
27 August
nzwine.com/en/initiativesevents/nzw26/wbf26/
The NZW 2026 Wine Business Forum, Winning in Changing Markets, will focus on where the next phase of growth will come from for New Zealand wine. The programme explores the wine industry's continually changing operating environment, where (despite current challenges) significant growth opportunities remain in category pockets and in emerging markets, combined with the potential to leverage digital, data and artificial intelligence.
Sonal Holland MW - India's only Master of Wine - will explore opportunities for New Zealand wine in India, and You-Jin Lee, the Head of Business Development for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in South Korea, will discuss surging wine sales there, backed up by recent consumer research to help accelerate that momentum. Brodie Reid, Tourism New Zealand General Manager Marketing, will reflect on the impacts of the New Zealand Michelin Guide on wine tourism, along with other key opportunities to drive industry growth through wine tourism.
Wine Business Monthly Managing Editor Erin Kirschenmann, and Treasury America's former VP of Digital Experience Justin Noland, now driving AI Enablement at the iconic Duckhorn Vineyards, are also part of a stellar lineup. The forum, to be held at Te Papa in Wellington, is the leading gathering for industry decision makers and will deliver practical, commercial insights, along with valuable peer-to-peer connection.
NZW 2026 Celebration Dinner
27 August
nzwine.com/en/initiativesevents/nzw26
This year's NZW Fellows will be honoured at the NZW 2026 Celebration Dinner, to be held at the Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre after the Wine Business Forum. The winners of the Ormond Nurseries Young Viticulturist of the Year and the Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year Competitions will also be announced on the night.
Winemakers' Dinner
11 September
A Winemakers' Dinner will be held at Cellar 495 the night before the 2026 Hawke's Bay Wine Auction. Guests at this new event will have the opportunity to sample the seven full barrel lots up for auction, including three created through an extraordinary Chardonnay collaboration, and to talk to the winemakers.
Hawke's Bay Wine Auction
12 September
Hawke's Bay wine industry has provided an exception lineup of wines for New Zealand's oldest wine auction. This year's offering includes the Bilancia 'Cinque Terre', offering an opportunity to join winemakers Warren Gibson and Lorraine Leheny, along with Hawke's Bay Wine Auction Ambassador Mike McRoberts, to blend a 2026 Bilancia Chardonnay, made from unique Hawke's Bay soils, before lunch and wine with the winemakers.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
14-21 September
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026 has a focus on Te Reo Towns, celebrating the communities that have kept te reo Māori alive, and inviting all of Aotearoa to help it flourish into the future.
Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium
17-18 September
hawkesbaywine.co.nz/chardonnay-symposium-2026
Quality is at the heart of the 2026 symposium, to be held in Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke's Bay, with a focus on the unique features that define our whenua, climate and philosophy, and how these elements come together to enable the production of premium Chardonnay. Presenters and attendees will delve into what makes quintessentally great Aotearoa Chardonnay with exceptional quality, texture and balance.
Organic Wine Week
21-27 September 2026
organicwinenz.com/organicwineweek
Featuring pop-up tastings, wine list takeovers, winemaker dinners, retail promotions and more, the week opens a window into the vibrant world of organic wine.
Toast Martinborough
14 November
There is a refreshed format for 2026, with the event hosted exclusively at The Runholder. Eight neighbouring vineyards from the Martinborough wine village will join craft gin and beer producers.
Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027
2-4 February 2027
Jermaine Stone (@realwolfofwine) is among the first speakers announced for Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027.
Calling New Zealand the “undisputed king” of Sauvignon Blanc, the New York wine communicator, known for blending wine and hip hop culture, says the variety’s freshness and tropical character make it a go-to choice when he is overwhelmed by a big wine list.
London-based Felicity Carter, founder of Drinks Insider and Editorial Director at Areni Global, will bring a global perspective on where New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc stands today and what may lie ahead. “New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has had the most impressive run of any wine style of the modern era, and now it’s doing it again,” she says. “With the turn towards fresher, lighter styles of white wine, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect wine to meet the times.” Meanwhile, Charlotte Dagueneau, daughter of the late Didier Dagueneau and based in the Loire Valley, will share her personal connection to the variety. The SBNZ27 programme, to be held in Wairau, Marlborough, is designed to celebrate New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and broaden global perceptions of the category, exploring diverse regional expressions, ageworthy styles and emerging innovations.
Organic Conference 2027
1-3 June 2027
Central Otago will host the Organic & Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference from 1–3 June 2027, drawing passionate researchers, practitioners and experts from Aotearoa and beyond.
