Top Location To Showcase Premium New Zealand Wine

Top Location To Showcase Premium New Zealand Wine

Some of the country’s top winemakers and vintners will showcase a selection of New Zealand’s finest wines at the inaugural Sky Tower New Zealand Winemakers’ Dinner 2003, on Tuesday 11 November, at Auckland’s top dining locations Orbit and Observatory restaurants (at Sky Tower).

The high profile event will not only feature sampling of some of the nation’s premier wines with regional cuisine to match, but will offer guests the chance to meet and mingle with the people behind some of the nation’s top wine labels (Peregrine, Greenhough Wines, Martinborough Vineyard, Craggy Range, Stonyridge and Huia).

SKYCITY General Manager Food and Beverage Terry Hilsz, says the “Degustation” style evening will offer guests a culinary experience that is totally unique.
“It is rare to have the opportunity to meet any of our top winemakers in person let alone some of the nation’s finest at one time, and covering a vast geographical spread from Waiheke Island’s Stonyridge vineyard in the North to Peregrine in Central Otago, South Island,” he says.

Guests to the exclusive Orbit evening event will be able to savour courses prepared especially by SKYCITY Executive Chef, Warren Bias.

Working with each winemaker, Mr Bias will design every course to complement two wines (two glasses of wine served per course) so diners can then evaluate, by personal preference, the different wines that have been selected specifically by the winemakers’ panel.

Mr Hilsz says that the concentric design and revolving nature of Orbit restaurant along with the opportunity to rub shoulders with key New Zealand winemakers will combine to create a truly unique occasion.

“We will set up quadrants with different ‘stations’ within the restaurant for each of the vineyards and winemakers. As diners rotate at their tables, they will move around to meet and discuss their personal wine choices with the winemakers from each vineyard”, says Mr Hilsz.

Mr Hilsz says this event will be a wonderful experience for anyone interested in food and wine from corporates and social groups, to family and friends.

Tickets to the Sky Tower New Zealand Winemakers’ Dinner 2003 at Orbit restaurant, (7pm, sharp, Tuesday 11 November 2003), will cost $125 each. Table arrangements can be made direct through Steven Richards at Orbit Reservations on 09 363 6406.

Coinciding with the evening event in Orbit, there will also be a more informal trade function to be held at Sky Tower’s Observatory restaurant from 2 – 5pm earlier the same afternoon. Offering the same vineyards with their range of wines and the opportunity to rub shoulders with the winemakers, the trade event will also serve food platters with regional distinction to accompany the wines. The trade function will be through invitation.

For information regarding the afternoon trade function or the Orbit Winemakers’ dinner please contact Steven Richards, Sky Tower restaurant reservations on phone 09 363 6406.

Vineyards and representatives attending the event: Peregrine Vineyard – founder Greg Hay and winemaker Michelle Richardson Stonyridge Vineyard – winemaker Stephen White Craggy Range – master of wine Steve Smith Martinborough Vineyard – winemaker Claire Mulholland Greenhough Vineyard – owner Andrew Greenhough Huia Vineyards – sales and marketing director Marie-Isabelle Devault

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