While no one could have predicted that after 102 COVID-free days, we’d be back using the words ‘lockdown’ and ‘social distancing’, but you can still celebrate International Pinot Noir Day with your mates this Tuesday, August 18. Here’s how:
Buy local
There are hundreds of New Zealand wineries that can safely deliver your favourite drop straight to your door.
Yes, you could head to the local supermarket and grab a bottle (also a suitable option) but why not support your local winery by purchasing a few bottles of Pinot Noir directly from the source?
Many wineries – especially the ones with cellar doors – are struggling with sales because they don’t have international tourists at the moment. So they’re relying heavily on online sales.
So just head to the winery’s website and place an order… why not buy a case? Just in case!
Hashtag
With plenty of time to style the perfect social media pic, now’s the time to pour a Pinot and share it with red wine lovers around the world.
Tag #PinotNoirDay and #lovenzpinot on August 18 to join the online community and follow @nzwinegrowers to keep up with the action.
Drink with friends
If you’re not in Auckland, then grab some mates and pop out to your favourite local to share a glass of New Zealand Pinot. Yes, you’ll need to wear a mask and be seated but hey, at least you can still go to the bar and enjoy a night out with delicious wine!
For Aucklanders who are back in Level 3 we’re sure you’re all familiar with Zoom, Google Houseparty, Video Messenger and Whatsapp Video by now. These are still great ways to catch up with friends over a wine while you can’t visit bars and clubs. Create your own virtual bar at home! No one’s going into the office on Wednesday, so wine not?!
Don’t forget, we did it once, we can do it again. Kia Kaha New Zealand and thank goodness for wine.
To find out your Pinot Personality, take the quiz here.
Fun fact:
Allegedly, a Pinot Noir cutting was snipped from the renowned Domaine de la Romanée-Conti vineyards in Burgundy by a mischievous tourist.
Smuggled into New Zealand in a gumboot, the plant was intercepted at Auckland airport customs by Malcolm Abel, a local winemaker who happened to be working as a customs officer. He realised what this grapevine was and sent it to the government’s viticultural research centre to be processed properly.
Eventually the first cuttings were released and Abel planted them. His vineyard no longer exists but Abel’s cuttings have been shared far and wide, and the Abel clone is the foundation of many of New Zealand’s most premium Pinot Noir today.
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