Central Otago artist reflects region in 2016 Pinot Noir Cuvée

A renowned Central Otago artist is adding his flair to one of the world’s premier wine event which kicks off in Queenstown this week.

Otago artist Simon Kaan has created the art for the label gracing a very special wine that will be auctioned – along with the artwork – in the charity auction during the 2016 Central Otago Pinot Noir celebration.

The Celebration - the 12^th event of its kind since the inaugural celebration in 2000 – will be held from Thursday January 28 to 30 2016.

The artist - who has curated numerous exhibitions and completed commissions for the likes of the Department of Conservation - said he based the design on his main study of work “harmony and balance”, depicting a mythological place of land, water and sky.

“I treated the work as an emotional response to get the feel of the wine and reflect the region that it’s grown in,” he said.

“There’s a sense of sparseness to the final piece similar to the Central Otago area that’s reflected through the colour palette of greys, light browns and gold.”


Central Otago artist Simon Kaan has created artwork to be auctioned at the 2016 Central Otago Pinot Noir celebration. Photo courtesy of Southern PR

Attendees at this year’s celebration are invited to bid in the ‘en primeur’ auction of the 2016 Central Otago Pinot Noir Cuvée that will be blended from 33 participating Central Otago wineries' best 2016 vintage.

The oak wine barrel will be signed by wine professionals and celebrity guests at the event ahead of a ‘barrel filling’ in June 2016. A silent auction will also be held during the celebration to win a selection of case lots and magnums.

All proceeds from the auction will go to chosen charity Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust, a rescue service for the lower South Island saving lives 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The money donated will be used for updating GPS mapping to enable quicker and safer flight paths between Dunedin and Central Otago.

Charitable Trust chairman Alistair King said he’s “delighted” with this year’s chosen charity.

“The money raised in the auction enables us to give back to the Central Otago region as a whole for providing the outstanding space in which we grow our wine, helping save lives and supporting the highly-trained team on difficult missions”

“Over the past 15 years we’ve donated around $195,000 to Central Otago charities, and this year’s wine celebration will help us break the $200,000 milestone.”


The Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration attracts Pinot Noir lovers from around the world. Photo courtesy of Southern PR

The Celebration attracts Pinot Noir lovers from around the world, including three wine buffs who have attended all 11 celebrations to date. This year’s star guest is one of the world’s leading wine experts, UK wine raconteur Oz Clarke of BBC TV and radio fame.

Other highlights of the Celebration include a Grand Tasting of 66 Central Otago Pinot Noirs on Friday morning, a lunch in the vines, a Winemakers Carnival at a secret location, a tasting of French Pinot Noir and the Skyline Gala Dinner.

Chairman of the event John Wallace said this year’s celebration was going to be the “biggest and best celebration we’ve ever held.”

“We’re looking forward to sharing our amazing landscape with the perfect blend of wine personalities, wine buffs, local cuisine and our fantastic wine.”

For more information go to www.pinotcelebration.co.nz