Whether you sell wine, serve wine, or simply want to expand your knowledge, don’t miss the 2024 Negociants Fine Wine Tour,
advises Joelle Thomson...

If you find yourself at a loose end or with a thirst to quench in the middle of the year, here’s a wine tour with a difference. This tour will take you all around the Southern Hemisphere in one event – with dates in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

The wine tour in question is the 2024 Negociants Fine Wine Tour. If it sounds a little elitist (which the term ‘fine wine’ can do), rest assured, this event is open to everyone who loves wine, with sessions for members of the trade and for the public. It offers a delicious dive into a wide range of wines, places and insights into geography, climate, and culture on both sides of the Tasman.

Wine tours such as this are a relatively rare way to discover new flavours without having to commit to a whole glass, an entire bottle, or a visit to a winery. Speaking of which, plenty of wineries are represented with winemakers, wine marketers, and other specialists on hand to take visitors through their wares.

Distributor Negociants NZ has vast global representation in its eclectic,
high quality portfolio. Every winery in this particular wine tour comes from the Southern Hemisphere and its New Zealand offering includes Rippon Vineyard, Two Paddocks Wines and Misha’s Vineyard from Central Otago; Auntsfield Wines, Fromm Winery, Greywacke Wines, Nautilus Estate and Saint Clair Family Estate from Marlborough; Mt Beautiful Wines from Cheviot, and Pyramid Valley Wines from North Canterbury (but also with other regions represented in its range); Dry River Wines and Palliser Estate from Martinborough; Black Barn Vineyards and Smith & Sheth from the Hawke’s Bay.

From Negociants’ Australian portfolio, the tour will showcase Brokenwood Wines from the Hunter Valley, d’Arenberg Wines from McLaren Vale, Jim Barry Wines from Clare Valley, Langmeil Wines from the Barossa Valley, Yalumba Wines and Chaffey Bros Wines from the Barossa and Eden Valleys and last, but certainly not least, Vasse Felix Wines from Margaret River in Western Australia. This last winery was one of the first to establish a high-quality wine identity in Western Australia and has since forged a reputation for excellence.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience such a wide range of wines from around New Zealand and across the Tasman. Having been to this wine tour over many years and in different cities, I can tell you it’s a must-visit event for anyone keen to actively grow their knowledge and wine experience.

Negociants Fine Wine Tour 2024
Christchurch: Monday 22 July at The Christchurch Town Hall.

Wellington: Tuesday 23 July at Te Wharewaka o Poneke.

Auckland: Wednesday 24 July at The Hilton Auckland.

Trade sessions run from 1.30- 4.30pm each day. Registration is essential.
Visit negociants.com/nz/events for details.

Public sessions run from 6-8pm each day. Tickets are essential and can be purchased via the website.

Joelle Thomson is a journalist, wine writer and author.

joellethomson.com