Winemakers from Waiheke Island, West Auckland and Matakana are pulling out all the stops to showcase the region’s exciting winemaking scene at the first-ever Auckland Wine Week being held 13-23 June.
With many of Auckland’s best wineries and vineyards taking part, escape to Waiheke Island for a unique, all-inclusive wine-lovers adventure on Sunday 16 June, head north for an afternoon of rare and hard-to-find gems in Matakana on Saturday 22 June, or journey west to Auckland’s oldest wine region and let your wine tasting passport take you through a day of premium and reserve tastings on Sunday 23 June.
There’s a whole world of wine to be discovered on Auckland’s doorstep, says organiser Rob Eliott.
“It’s an incredible thing to live in a city with great wineries on our doorstep and that deserves to be celebrated,” he says. “From Waiheke Island with its stunning Syrah, world-class Chardonnay, intense Cabernet blends and fine aromatics, to internationally-recognised elegant Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the West, and excellent Pinot Gris, Syrah, Cabernet blends and emerging red varieties in the North.
“With a full line-up of vinous adventures taking place around the region from vineyards to some of the city’s best restaurants, Auckland Wine Week is a chance to connect with the city in a different way, celebrating the people and places that make these incredible wines.”
Discovery Dinner at Gusto – Thursday 13 June
Join us for the launch of Auckland Wine Week and an evening of discovery at Gusto at the Grand. Guests will sit down to an Italian feast shared family style as Master of Wine Bob Campbell leads us through a wide range of wines from some of Auckland’s most talented winemakers, fresh from the 2019 harvest. $185 per person
https://www.aucklandwineweek.co.nz/launch-dinner
Waiheke Wine Day Out – Sunday 16 June
Escape to Waiheke Island for a unique (all-inclusive) wine-lovers adventure. Just a ferry ride away, Waiheke vineyards will showcase the best of Waiheke wine and food at three beautiful venues, Tantalus Estate, Batch Winery and Wild on Waiheke. With a total of nine vineyards taking part including Tantalus Estate, Mudbrick, Casita Miro, Poderi Crisci, Batch Winery, Kennedy Point, Postage Stamp Wines and Wild Estate, explore a state-of-the-art gravity fed winery and learn about sustainable viticulture. You’ll also have plenty of time to relax, enjoy the wine and wander amongst the vines and outdoor sculptures, with the opportunity to participate in archery and laser clay bird shooting. $155 per person includes all food and wine tastings, return ferry trip from Auckland and bus transport between venues.
https://www.aucklandwineweek.co.nz/waiheke-wine-day-out
Matakana Magic – Saturday 22 June
Just a 50-minute drive north from downtown Auckland, head to Matakana’s The Vintry on Saturday 22 June for an exclusive tasting of some very rare and special wines from the wineries of Matakana. With local wineries Monarch Estate, Brick Bay, Hyperion, Runner Duck Estate, Omaha Bay, Takatu, Sculptureum and Matakana Estate all sharing something special from their collections, join consultant winemaker James Graham and wine expert Anto Coates in exploring medal-winning wines, favourite library wines and others carefully selected from the final few cases available. Informative, fun and delicious, wines will be matched with food by The Vintry. $95 per person, two sessions available.
https://www.aucklandwineweek.co.nz/matakana-magic
Wineries Out West – Sunday 23 June
Journey west to Auckland’s oldest wine region and let your ticket to this event be your passport to a day of one-of-a-kind cellar door visits on Sunday 23 June. Make your way around some of the country’s best-known wineries including Babich, Kumeu River, Coopers Creek, Soljans, The Hunting Lodge and Westbrook, as they pull out their rare, unique and top drops for you to enjoy. A fun day out west at $60 per person.
https://www.aucklandwineweek.co.nz/wineries-out-west
Winetopia – Friday 14 and Saturday 15 June
Immerse yourself in the best of New Zealand wine at the country’s biggest wine tasting event Winetopia presented by Singapore Airlines, on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 June.
A colourful line-up of wine experts, personalities, masterclasses and the opportunity to sample hundreds of world-class varietals from over 60 renowned vineyards will see thousands of passionate wine lovers flock to this year’s event on Auckland’s waterfront.
Speak directly to winemakers, sample incredible wines, ‘share a glass’ with famous faces like former news presenter John Hawkesby, learn from industry gurus including New Zealand Master of Wine Bob Campbell and renowned Australian wine expert Nick Stock, and wine and dine with mouthwatering food offerings from Paris Butter, Xoong, Monsoon Poon, Akemis Gyoza, Salash Delicatessen, Makana Confections, A Lady Butcher and Taste of Sri Lanka. From $32 per person
https://www.winetopia.co.nz/winetopiaauckland
Mudbrick & Augustus Winemakers Dinner – Wednesday 19 June
Enjoy a decadent four course dinner menu matched with wines from Waiheke’s Mudbrick Vineyard at Augustus Bistro in Ponsonby. Award winning winemaker Patrick Newton will guide diners through each wine with in depth tasting notes and further food pairing recommendations. $175 per person
https://www.aucklandwineweek.co.nz/wine-tastings
The Auckland Fine Wine Story – Thursday 20 June
Experience Auckland’s Fine Wine Story in an eight glass wine tasting hosted by David Nash at The Seafarers Club. This tasting will take you on journey from West Auckland’s viticultural pioneers to Matakana’s experimental boutique growers and over to Waiheke’s modern day icons. $125 per person
https://www.aucklandwineweek.co.nz/
Instore tastings – 17 – 22 June, various locations
Join winemakers from around the region at your local fine wine store for delicious inspiration and a chance to try their range. Naturally all Auckland Glengarry stores are getting involved.
Head to www.aucklandwineweek.co.nz for tickets and more information.
