RACHEL PINDER
More than 120 media and wine industry delegates from around the world will be converging on Hawke's Bay this weekend for a one-day international symposium on syrah.
The sold-out event will be held at Trinity Hill Winery and guests are expected from Canada, the UK, the USA, Australia, The Netherlands,
Singapore, Japan, as well as New Zealand.
It has been organised by Hawke's Bay Winegrowers, as part of an extended programme for those attending Pinot Noir 2007 in Wellington.
Guest speakers will be international syrah commentator Remington Norman from the UK, as well as top winemakers Michael Havens from the USA and Tom Carson from Australia.
An opening dinner will be held on Friday night at Te Awa Winery, before the symposium begins on Saturday.
It will be opened by the deputy Prime Minister, Michael Cullen, and will feature an overview of Hawke's Bay and syrah from Stonecroft's Alan Limmer, syrah and terroir from RM Wines' Rod McDonald, and evaluation of syrah styles from Trinity Hill's John Hancock.
The day will finish with dinner at the Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels winery, hosted by the Gimblett Gravels Association.
The event aims to give delegates a chance to taste some of Hawke's Bay's and New Zealand's finest syrahs alongside top international examples.
Mr McDonald, chairman of Hawke's Bay Winegrowers, said the symposium organisers were delighted to be playing host to stars of the international wine world.
"It's an honour to have such leading wine authorities at our event," Mr McDonald said.
Mr Hancock, chief winemaker and owner at Trinity Hill Winery, agreed.
"This could be just the driver we need to put Hawke's Bay on the world stage as a real contender for word-class syrah," he said.
Syrah continues to grow rapidly in popularity, both in terms of new grape plantings and consumer preferences.
Dr Limmer, owner and winemaker at Stonecroft, has been significantly involved in establishing the day's programme.
"This international wine symposium is a first for Hawke's Bay," he said. "Focusing on syrah brings this variety into the spotlight as a wine style with which New Zealand seems to be showing particular promise."
