Dates announced for New Zealand’s only red wine expo

Dates for New Zealand’s number one red wine exhibition, Hot Red Hawke’s Bay, have been announced with this year’s event taking place in Christchurch on 15 June, Wellington on 16 June and finishing in Auckland on 17 June.

The event has moved from its traditional July slot to make way for space in the busy calendar of Hawke’s Bay’s winemakers who will be travelling to Sydney and Melbourne with the red wine expo for the first time this year. The June timing will also allow winemakers to put the finishing touches on this years wines in the cellar before travelling away.

Tickets to the New Zealand dates are limited to just 200 per venue, and with the event a sell out weeks in advance in some centres last year, red wine lovers are advised to book early.

“Last year, dozens of Wellingtonians were disappointed that the expo had sold out before they had booked their tickets, and we are expecting an early rush on bookings this year as a result – loyal fans of this unique wine event won’t want to miss out again this year” says event manager, Nicola Pentelow.

The expo gives visitors the chance to meet the winemakers from many of Hawke’s Bay’s award winning wineries and to chat to them about the stunning red wines that they are producing. It is a great opportunity for the public to get the intimate tasting experience that is normally reserved for those in hospitality and the wine retail trade.

Wineries presenting their red wines at the expo are:
Abbey Cellars, Alpha Domus, Askerne, Babich, Black Barn, Bridge Pa, Church Road, CJ Pask, Clearview Estate Winery, Corbans, Crossroads, Cypress Wines, Elephant Hill, Esk Valley, Lime Rock, Matariki Wines, Mission Estate Winery, Moana Park, Ngatarawa, Salvare, Sileni Estates, Te Awa, The Grail, Trinity Hill, Vidal and Villa Maria.

Hot Red Hawke’s Bay is being held in Christchurch at Christchurch Town Hall on Tuesday June 15; in Wellington at Wellington Town Hall on Wednesday June 16; and in Auckland at the Rendezvous Hotel on Thursday June 17.

General admission tickets are $38 inclusive of a special Hot Red Hawke’s Bay wine glass, free tastings of all wines, and full catalogue of all wines and wineries. They go on sale on 19 April through Ticketek.

For more information:
Nicola Pentelow
Gameplan Ltd
Phone 021 807 579 or gameplanevents@xtra.co.nz