“Let us join together, In Praise of Riesling”
The Waipara Valley in North Canterbury is the perfect place to consummate this passion for the variety that Jancis Robinson calls “the indisputably greatest white wine variety in the world”.
We invite you to join us on Saturday 7th March 2009 for a day of Riesling thanksgiving in the beautifully landscaped surroundings of the Pegasus Bay Winery.
It is often said that Riesling has a remarkable capacity for ravishing the
senses while also engaging the intellect, so all aspects of the variety will be highlighted in this day long programme. Riesling will be tasted and examined on everything from a local (Waipara Valley), regional (New Zealand) and international (rest of the world) level.
The day will be broken up to form three distinct areas of focus:
1. Context
The first part of the day will be dedicated to understanding the
Riesling grape variety in its best expression from other parts of the
world. Wines to be tasted include producers such as; FX Pichler, Prager and Hirtzberger (Wachau, Austria), JJ Prum and Heymann-Lowenstein (Mosel, Germany) and Donnhoff (Pfalz, Germany).
2. Exploration
This part of the programme will explore Riesling in its New Zealand context:
a. A marketing workshop which examines the issues associated with selling Riesling including a discussion about the new International Riesling Foundation’s “taste scale”.
b. A showcase of Waipara Valley Riesling where participating wineries are invited to put their “best Riesling foot forward”. This may include back vintages, rare wines or even experimental batches.
c. A regional workshop where Riesling from Gisborne, Martinborough, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago will be tasted and regionality discussed.
3. Relevance
Throughout the day careful consideration will be given to Riesling’s unique place as an outstanding food wine, with wonderful food matches by the Pegasus Bay team that won Cuisine Magazine’s 2008 Regional Restaurant of the Year award.
Join local winemakers, some of Australasia’s most influential wine writers, Riesling experts and fans for a wonderful day dedicated to this classic grape variety.
Comments from last year’s event:
“It’s great to feel like a kid again. Indeed, the following day at the seminar itself at Pegasus Bay’s winery in the Waipara Valley, I was like a kid in a candy store. I was surrounded not only by cult Austrian Riesling from the Wachau, German Scharzhofberger so rare it’s almost a myth and Grand Cru reckonings from Alsace, but a bevy of Riesling fanatics that comprehensively covered the who’s who of New Zealand vinous royalty. The kingdom of Heaven cometh.”
Max Marriott, IPR Delegate 2008
“Many, many thanks for organising such a superb event - educational, insightful, and above all, highly enjoyable. Please pass on my thanks and congratulations to your fellow organisers and I hope it has sown the seed for an event that will now grow and evolve, while continuing to reflect the potential and hospitality of the Waipara Valley.”
Tim Robinson, IPR Delegate 2008
