A Queenstown weekend for serious wine lovers

The Rees Hotel & Apartments is an outstanding address in Queenstown, overlooking Lake Wakatipu and with a long record of excellence in wine and food.

The Rees will host the inaugural auction of some of Central Otago and the world's great wines over the October Labour Day weekend (October 25-28) this year.

The auction is expected to feature approximately 300 lots with some individual wines with reserves of up to $50,000.

The Rees, which has its own internationally acclaimed cellar, is aiming to to make this an annual event; one that will develop into a food and wine festival for Queenstown.

The weekend will culminate in a degustation dinner with wines from four local producers and Ata Rangi from Martinborough, hosted by CEO Mark Rose, himself a wine expert.

The inaugural weekend event will include a welcome cocktail party, wine masterclasses and tastings, a lunch at Bannockburn Hotel on Saturday and the Central Otago Wine Auction.

The featured wineries will each provide two wines to match each of the five courses created by The Rees’ executive chef Trent Watson.

Blair Walter, of Felton Road Wines and a trustee of the Central Otago Pinot Noir Charitable Trust (established by COPNL), announced at a launch event in Queenstown that local producers, Prophet’s Rock, Quartz Reef, and Rippon will feature.

A special charity fundraising feature of the auction will include several vintages of the Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration Cuvée. These wines feature labels from prominent New Zealand artists including like Bill Hammond, Grahame Sydney and Ralph Hotere.

A three-night package includes three nights Lakeview accommodation, breakfast daily, welcome function including drinks and canapes; The Rees Pinot Noir Expedition including 5 x masterclasses with five winemakers and lunch at Bannockburn Hotel; tickets to the wine auction, winemakers' dinner and a late check out on the Monday. 

The price is $NZ 1290 per person, double/twin-share. 

For bookings and enquiries phone: +64 3 450 1100 or email: events@therees.co.nz

See therees.co.nz