The Family of Twelve — a conglomeration of 12 wineries in New Zealand — recently hosted an inaugural wine tutorial to increase opportunities for wine professionals in the country.

The Family said they are thrilled to have hosted an engaged cohort of 12 participants, at family wineries Craggy Range and Villa Maria, in Hawke’s Bay last week.

“The Family are very proud to have hosted our most ambitious educational event yet,” said Family chair, Paul Donaldson.

“To support a vibrant future for New Zealand wine and its next generation of industry leaders, the tutorial has created 12 passionate ambassadors for New Zealand wine.”

At the tutorial’s conclusion the Family named Andres Aragon Perez from the Merivale Group in Sydney as Tutorial Dux.

Andres demonstrated a true passion for wine with the ability to communicate this in an articulate and personable way.

“We believe he will be a dynamic and engaging wine ambassador,” said a Family representative.

“As his prize Andres will return to New Zealand to tour all 12 Family wineries and [he] also receives a collection of the Family’s hero wines for his cellar.”

In addition to the Dux the Family named Maciej Zimny of Noble Rot Wine Bar in Wellington as the winner of the Institute of Masters of Wine Prize.

As the candidate showing most promise for the Institute’s MW education program Maciej will travel to Adelaide, sponsored by the Institute, to the attend the annual educational seminar in November 2018.

Maceij also wins an experience to visit the Barossa Valley hosted by the sister family, Australia’s First Families of Wine.

Over three immersive days the participants were tutored and challenged to be the best that they could be in a series of compelling blind-tasting workshops tutored by Family members and an external moderator Master of Wine, Emma Jenkins.

The Participants 2018 – Bobby Clark, Lindsay Carr, Marek Przyborek, Benji Smith, Maciej Zimny, Rosie Finn, Liz Wheadon, Adam Balasoglou, Andres Aragon Perez, Fergus Trengrove, Mark Godden, Wayne Shennen

The Family said this format was very effective, enabling the Family to pass on their knowledge and wisdom to the participants.

Tutorial wine chair Blair Walter, of Felton Road, said: “The workshops and dinners showcased the Family’s best amongst line-ups of fine and fascinating wines from many of the world’s greatest estates; a global context for fine New Zealand wine.

“Over the three days a small army of volunteer sommeliers deftly poured some 3600 wine tastes from 85 different producers, in 57 wine regions across 11 countries from Argentina to Georgia into hundreds of Riedel glasses.”

“Wine is all about people so tasting great wines in the company of industry peers, pioneering wine-growers and Masters of Wine added a deep and memorable dimension to the learning experience of these future industry leaders,” Donald said.

“We’re excited to plan the next wine tutorial which again will be open to anyone working with New Zealand wine, wherever in the world they’re based,” he added.