THESPIEGELAUIWC.CO.NZ

Ever wondered why there are so many wine competitions all over the world? Everybody - including world-class wine testers - has a preference. And, each event takes a slightly different angle from the next one. New Zealand, for example, has nine wine competitions every year, with each competition having different criteria for finding the world's finest wine. That makes it surprisingly hard for winemakers to become finalists in two separate events... Formally known as the Air New Zealand Wine Awards, this event is considered the official wine competition in New Zealand. It was founded in the late 1970s and has been the gold standard in wine events across the world. As imagined, Air New Zealand was the confirmed sponsor of the competition for over 30 years. But they recently pulled out, leading to the name change. However, the airline's spokesman says they will still spend at least $1 million every year showcasing the best New Zealand wine to the world.