Anticipation started building when Blair Walter, winemaker at Felton Road, announced plans for the inaugural Central Otago Wine Auction Weekend.
Featuring a star studded line-up of producers including Paul Pujol from Prophet’s Rock, Rudi Bauer from Quartz Reef, Nick Mills from Rippon, Helen Masters from guest winery Ata Rangi and, of course, Blair from Felton Road (who is also a trustee of the Central Otago Pinot Noir Charitable Trust). The inaugural weekend event was a wonderful gathering of people with one thing in common – a love of Central Otago wines and, in particular, pinot noir.
The base for the weekend was The Rees Hotel, with its sweeping views over Lake Wakatipu across to The Remarkables mountain range. It was the perfect location, given its reputation for the depth of its wine program and lakefront location.
The drive through the Kawarau Gorge to Cromwell on Saturday morning was particularly scenic – thanks to an unseasonably late dump of snow fall – and before long guests were making their way into the cosy Bannockburn Hall for the day's tastings.
Rudi from Quartz Reef’s presentation focused on the question: 'Is Europe still influencing us?' Paul from Prophets Rock’s theme was ‘From Burgundy to Bendigo' where he presented the Cuvée Aux Antipodes, a pinot noir collaboration between Paul and renowned French winemaker François Millet (who was the winemaker at Comte George de Vogüé for 35 years).
Helen Masters' session was entitled 'Great pinot noir from Te Ika-a-Māui – Martinborough, distinct voices of the whenua'. The session was a journey showing the clear transmission of site to glass from the range of Ata Rangi terroirs. Blair from Felton Road’s theme was 'The evolution of Central Otago – with almost 30 years of winemaking in Central Otago – what’s changed, what’s hot and what’s not' with wonderful examples of wines from the 2007, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2023 vintages, along with a robust discussion of stylistic changes over the years.
Nick Mills wrapped up the tastings with the question: 'Whose world is it anyway?' Old World, New World, which World? Just great Wānaka pinot noir', along with a selection of superb wines from the beautiful Rippon vineyard. Anyone who has been lucky enough to hear Nick speak would know that this was a thought-provoking session, and there was plenty to think about on the drive back to the Rees Hotel before freshening up and hitting Queenstown for the evening. After a hearty breakfast and a leisurely morning in Queenstown it was time for the focal point of the weekend's activities – the Central Otago Wine Auction.
The auction has been a great success, generating over $315,000 for the Central Otago Pinot Noir Charitable Trust, which has donated to an extensive range of local charities like Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust, Mercy Hospital Charitable Outreach and Otago Community Hospice. Reece Warren and Robyn Pagonis from Auckland-based The Wine Auction Room were also on hand to ensure that the event ran smoothly and there were some outstanding results.
Two bottles of 2014 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole brought in $13,995, a 2016 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru Monopole, Cote de Nuits went for $7990, and a very tempting 1990 Chateau d'Yquem 5000ml was sold for $5000.
Among the local stars, a six-pack vertical (2008–2013) of Rippon Emma's Block Pinot Noir went for $1351, a double magnum of 2021 Felton Road Block 5 Pinot Noir brought in $1128, a six-pack (2015–2020) of Cuvee Aux Antipodes by Prophet's Rock Pinot Noir vertical was snapped up for $775, a double magnum of 2008 Ata Rangi a steal at $640, and a vertical (2014–2019) of Quartz Reef Bendigo Single Ferment Pinot Noir achieved $529.
The atmosphere and camaraderie in the room were outstanding, the bidding animated and the event was a great success. While I got in a bidding war with Nick Mills for a bottle of Vietti Barolo and lost, I did manage to snaffle a bottle of 1977 Warre’s Vintage Port, duly shipped to my parents' property in North Canterbury for consumption with my lovely octogenarian father at Christmas.
When the auction was over, it was time to head back to our rooms before the final dinner in the True South Dining Room at The Rees. There were five delicious courses crafted by talented executive chef Trent Watson, and the five winemakers showcased two of their wines with each course, paired with many hilarious stories and a joy in the room for wine, food and company.
The inaugural Central Otago Wine Weekend was a stellar event bringing together people from New Zealand and across the Tasman to enjoy the best that the region has to offer, all while raising money for charities in Central Otago. The Rees Hotel manager, Micka McDonald, was a rockstar, ensuring the event's success and CEO Mark Rose, a wine nut himself, confirmed plans to hold the event at the same time every year.
Visit therees.co.nz to get onboard for the next wine-packed auction weekend.
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Image credits: The Rees Hotel Queenstown, Felton Road, New Zealand Winegrowers Inc, Prophet's Rock.
