W&F Celebration 2014

W&F Wine and Food Celebration at NZ School of Food & Wine

Over 600 hospitality trade and wine and food lovers attended our inaugural event includes 17 contestants for the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year, Junior Sommelier of the Year and Wine Professional Sommelier Year and 25 elite New Zealand wineries.

Our W&F Wine and Food Celebration will run again in September, 2015.

Our Viaduct Room is transformed with the bar from Hay’s just to the right of this photo.

Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas, Restaurateur Therese Herzog and Tim Hanni MW judging the practical component of the competition.

The goals of the competitions are to foster professionalism, career development and on-going training within hospitality. A travel grant of $200 enabled a people to travel to Auckland from around New Zealand.

We are grateful for the industry sponsorship and support for the competition prizes.

Meg Abbott-Walker, sommelier of Masu Restaurant, SkyCity.

Pouring Louis Roederer Estate before the judges.

New Zealand Sommelier of the Year

This award recognises excellence in New Zealand and international wine knowledge for outstanding candidates working as a sommelier or senior manager in a hotel, lodge or restaurant. We encourage entries from candidates who can demonstrate excellent wine service and communication skills along with an in depth knowledge of wines from around the world.

Sponsor: New Zealand School of Food and Wine & Louis Roederer

Prize

Return flight to Paris sponsored by NZ School of Food and Wine
VIP hosting for a day at Louis Roederer including a full tour of the cellars & lunch
Return transfers Paris to Reims

Andy Gladding, winner of the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year.

Junior Sommelier of the Year

Jared Svedlund from The French Cafe, Junior Sommelier winner, Oliver Carr, Keefe Robinson-Gore from the George Hotel, Christchurch.

This award recognises excellence in New Zealand wine knowledge for outstanding candidates working in any hospitality business. We encourage entries from candidates who wish to develop their wine skills and progress to more senior positions in their chosen field.

Sponsor: Misha’s Vineyard

Prize

Return flight to Queenstown
2 nights accommodation with Misha’s Vineyard/The Rees Hotel
Special dinner at the award-winning True South Dining Room (Exec-Chef - Ben Batterbury) and joined by the General Manager of The Rees Hotel
Helicopter tour around the key winegrowing regions of Central Otago

Young New Zealand Wine Professional of the Year

Celia Hay and Therese Herzog evaluating the sales pitch of wine professionals.

Brian Shaw from Amisfield presents a Pinot Noir pitch during the competition.

This award recognises excellence in New Zealand wine knowledge for outstanding candidates working in wine sales, retail, cellar door or wine distribution sectors. We encourage entries from candidates who wish to develop their wine skills and progress to more senior positions in their chosen field.

Sponsor: Hans Herzog Estate & Yealands Estate

Alexis Robin, Winner of the Young Wine Progressional with Ralf Kleinsgorge, Yealands Wine Group Regional Manager.

Prize

Return flights to Blenheim for the weekend of April 11-13, 2015
Attend Herzog Harvest Weekend: picking grapes, helping in the winery, lunches and dinner at Herzog bistro and restaurant
Travel to Yealands Estate, Awatere, meet wine-makers and view the vintage operation
3 nights accommodation

NZ Sommelier of the Year winner Andy Gladding from The French Café, Auckland being presented with a bottle of Louis Roederer Crystal, Cameron Douglas (Master Sommelier and Head Judge), Celia Hay, Ben Longhurst (Sponsor Eurovintage Distributors).

http://event.foodandwine.co.nz/Sommelier.html

NZ Junior Sommelier of the Year winner Oliver Carr (student at Lincoln University and former manager of Shed 5, Wellington) Alexis Robin, Winner of Young wine professional (Cellar door Mount Difficulty, Central Otago), NZ Sommelier of the Year winner Andy Gladding from The French Café, Auckland.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Guest presenters included Tim Hanni Master of Wine from California, well-respected wine judge Bob Campbell Master of Wine and Juliet Harbutt, Cheese expert from London.

Juliet Harbutt and her fabulous book on World Cheese.

Raffaela Delmonte tasting freshly pressed New Zealand extra virgin olive oil.

Airborne Honey captivate our guests with their honey sourced from New Zealand native flowers.

SPECIAL WINE TASTING OVER 2 DAYS

Twenty-five outstanding winegrowers, many of them certified organic, presented their wines at our public tasting held over two days.

Marlborough Dog Point, Hans Herzog, Yealands, Loveblock

Hawkes Bay Te Mata, Elephant Hill and Paritua

Gisborne Wrights

Villa Maria’s new, low alcohol and organic wines

Harakeke Farm Nelson

Auckland Turanga Creek, Puriri Hill and Artisan

Canterbury Pegasus Bay, Black Estate and Greystone

Central Otago Mt Difficulty, Aurum and Valli

From France wines from the famous regions of Chablis and Alsace and the Rhone Valley

Hans Herzog pouring some of his delicious and celebrated Viognier with Hollis Giddens from Valli wines behind him.

Steve Olley from Elephant Hill.

The boys from Maison Vauron pouring Chablis.

Ed Donaldson from Pegasus Bay.

Decanting Puriri Hills Pope Vineyard 2008 - blend of Bordeaux grapes.

Erica Crawford discussing Loveblock’s organic wines.

Important helpers Jenny Rothenberg and Cecilia Lee.

More Important helpers Sarah Whitehouse, Lutonia Naicker and Sarah MacIntyre.

Great to have Mount Difficulty on board.

Bronwyn Skuse from Vinoptima tempting us with that delicious Gewurztraminer in three styles: Vinoptima Reserve, Bond Road and the Vins Sophora - appropriately named after the Latin name for the native Kowhai tree.