Aotearoa NZ Chardonnay Symposium

Aotearoa NZ Chardonnay Symposium National forum for discussion & Exploration of Chardonnay in Aotearoa.

26.09 - 27.09 2024 Hastings

Start the symposium the right way! Join us at the Welcome Gathering on Wednesday 16 September from 5pm at Peak House for...
24/07/2026

Start the symposium the right way! Join us at the Welcome Gathering on Wednesday 16 September from 5pm at Peak House for an evening of shared Chardonnay, great snacks and top-tier company, all with sweeping views across Hawke's Bay.

This event is open to the wider wine community, so bring your team, your partner, family or friends along too. They don't need a symposium ticket to join the fun.

Tickets are $50 + GST. Book now via the link in bio.

We're delighted to offer Symposium attendees the opportunity to purchase a copy of the forthcoming 9th Edition of The Wo...
23/07/2026

We're delighted to offer Symposium attendees the opportunity to purchase a copy of the forthcoming 9th Edition of The World Atlas of Wine with their registration.

Edited by our keynote speaker, Julia Harding MW, alongside Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, this modern classic is an essential addition to every wine professional's library.

Collect your copy at the Symposium and take the opportunity to have it personally signed by Julia. Secure your copy today!

17 - 18 September 2026
Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium
Toitoi, Hastings
Registration now open, see link in bio.

Michael Brajkovich MW will present a Day 1 case study at the Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium, featuring a selection of Kum...
13/07/2026

Michael Brajkovich MW will present a Day 1 case study at the Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium, featuring a selection of Kumeu River Chardonnays.

A pioneer of New Zealand Chardonnay, Michael was New Zealand’s first Master of Wine and has played a defining role in establishing Kumeu River as one of the country’s most internationally recognised Chardonnay producers.

Aotearoa chardonnay producers, we’re inviting you to share your wines for two unique tasting opportunities ahead of the ...
09/07/2026

Aotearoa chardonnay producers, we’re inviting you to share your wines for two unique tasting opportunities ahead of the Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium 2026.

The Reference Tasting will bring together 2024 New Zealand Chardonnays for our keynote speakers and panellists to benchmark the style, breadth and quality of the vintage ahead of the Symposium.

We’re also delighted to offer a special pre-Symposium tasting opportunity with Julia Harding MW, who is keen to explore New Zealand Chardonnay ahead of her first visit to Aotearoa in a decade.

Whether you’re looking to contribute to the national conversation around Chardonnay or introduce your wines to one of the world’s most respected wine writers, this is your chance!

Submissions are now open - check the links in bio.

Julia Harding is a distinguished wine writer, editor, and Master of Wine, renowned for her expertise and attention to de...
02/07/2026

Julia Harding is a distinguished wine writer, editor, and Master of Wine, renowned for her expertise and attention to detail. With a Cambridge degree in Modern Languages, she initially worked as an academic book editor before her fascination with wine led her to a second career in wine writing.

She has received numerous accolades for her writing, including a ames Beard Award (2012); Wines of Portugal Personality of 2022; and winner of the 67 Global Wine Communicator award for long-form writing 2025.

We can only skim the surface of her achievements here and encourage you to read her complete profile at our website linked in bio.

17 - 18 September 2026
Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium
Toitoi, Hastings
Registration now open, see link in bio.

This September we bring together a national audience and international speakers from the wine community to discuss and s...
30/06/2026

This September we bring together a national audience and international speakers from the wine community to discuss and share knowledge on the sense of place in our Chardonnay.

17 - 18 September 2026
Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium
Toitoi, Hastings
Registration now open, see link in bio.

The Symposium committee are bursting with excitement to announce that Julia Harding MW is on our programme for 2026! is...
28/06/2026

The Symposium committee are bursting with excitement to announce that Julia Harding MW is on our programme for 2026!

is of the world’s most respected wine writers and editors, known for her precision, clarity, and major contribution to modern wine literature. In 2004, she became a Master of Wine, passing first time and winning the Robert Mondavi Award for top theory papers, a distinction for her dissertation and the Tim Derouet Memorial Prize for overall excellence.

For over 20 years, she has been Jancis Robinson’s senior editor at JancisRobinson.com. Julia co-authored Wine Grapes (2012), edited the maps for The World Atlas of Wine (7th 8th and 9th editions), and was lead editor for the one-million-word 5th edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine (2023).

Register today for your opportunity to hear Julia speak on Chardonnay here in Aotearoa.

17 - 18 September 2026
Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium
Toitoi, Hastings
Registration now open, see link in bio.

Full programme release coming soon, join the mailing list to stay up to date! Link in bio for newsletter and registratio...
26/06/2026

Full programme release coming soon, join the mailing list to stay up to date! Link in bio for newsletter and registration.

Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium
17/09 - 18/09
Toitoi, Hastings

We heard the feedback and in 2026 we’ve introduced even more opportunity for socialising with our wine community! Ticket...
24/06/2026

We heard the feedback and in 2026 we’ve introduced even more opportunity for socialising with our wine community! Tickets available NOW

Welcome Gathering:
New addition to the symposium programme: a Welcome Party on Wednesday for the local wine community to join visiting delegates in a casual catch up at the beautiful Peak House. Think BYO Chardonnay, grazing platters, and the perfect setting for catching up with peers who are a few years between drinks! Tickets available to the wider wine community.
- Wednesday 16 September
- Peak House, 357 Te Mata Peak Road, Havelock North
- $50 + GST & booking fee

Chardonnay Celebration:
Thursday night features our classic mid-symposium celebration with a feast from Silence of the Lambs, a massive table for BYO wines, and a DJ to keep things grooving. Tickets available for delegates and their partners.
- Thursday 17 September
- Atrium, 203 Queen Street East, Hastings
- $95 + GST & booking fee

We are thrilled to welcome Virginia Willcock (AUS) to our symposium line up! Virginia leads the winemaking team at Marga...
24/06/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Virginia Willcock (AUS) to our symposium line up! Virginia leads the winemaking team at Margaret River's and the 2026 vintage marked her 20th year at the estate.

"Chardonnay is the sexiest wine on earth and New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places on earth containing joyful human beings making great wine. If we can get all this together in one place…. where else would you rather be? Only curious minds will be there including the presenters, and only dynamic discussions and delicious Chardonnays will be shared." - Virginia Willcock ahead of the 2026 Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium.

Virginia will present a Case Study in one of our most-popular sessions of the symposium. Stay tuned for more speaker announcement and programme updates in the weeks to follow!

17 - 18 September 2026
Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium
Toitoi, Hastings
Registration now open, see link in bio.

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