The 2018 finals featured our very own Champagne Bollinger team of Andrew Parkinson and Clive Weston playing against the Logan Brown team of Steve Logan and Shaun Clouston. Congratulations to Logan Brown, who were crowned 2018 Champions after a hard fought game. We had great weather and some fabulous costumes and some awesome limericks presented in the limerick competition at both tournaments.

For the results of this year’s tournament see the article “Champagne Bollinger National Trade Tennis Tournaments 2019”.

Logan Brown – Cenna Lloyd and Andrew Parkinson from Negociants with the Logan Brown Team in the middle - Shaun Clouston and Steve Logan

During March 2018, we held Riedel Glassware sensory workshops with Mark Baulderstone in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown for trade customers. This was an opportunity to showcase the importance of beautifully crafted glassware for fine wine and beverage service. We had excellent feedback from those who participated and gained a greater appreciation for Riedel Glassware. Specifically the way the varietal glassware enhances the wine experience with positive impact on the perception of the bouquet and flavour. Read all about how Riedel glassware can change your wine life here. Riedel also released the Veritas Sauvignon Blanc glass, which was developed in association with Wine Marlborough for the variety’s evolving New World style.

The Auckland Lewisham Awards were held on 3rd June 2018 and Negociants NZ proudly sponsored the “Outstanding Wine Service Professional” award which was won by Ismo Koski of Apero.

Andrew Parkinson with Apero Staff accepting award on behalf of Ismo Koski

Negociants is also pleased to sponsor the category of “Outstanding Wine Experience” for the Felix Wellington Hospitality Awards which was held on 21st October. Congratulations to the 2018 winner - Noble Rot Wine Bar. For a full list of winners, please click here.

Hanna Waddington & Cenna Lloyd from Negociants with Maciej Zimny and the Noble Rot team

This year we were also very pleased to upgrade our website and we hope you find this useful and easy to use when looking for information on our products. You can view and download tasting notes direct from the website by selecting the product and also bottle shots in different formats from the image library link at the bottom of the web page. News and events are also posted here, as well as on our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Negociants is a co-sponsor of Auckland Restaurant Month held during August and we were involved in a majority of the special dining events and Restaurant Month menus at participating Auckland restaurants during this period. We also had a stand at Curious Foods, a new food & wine festival and poured Hills Cider and a range of international wines.
Taste of Auckland is another festival at which we regularly have a stand. This year, it was held on Queens Wharf for the very first time, with the Negociants stand located in “The Cloud”. Black Barn, Urlar, Joiy and Nautilus wines were all poured at this event.

Negociants NZ stand at Taste of Auckland

Champagne Bollinger and Negociants NZ have been sponsors of Pompallier Tennis Club for over 30 years. The Auckland Champagne Bollinger Trade Tennis Tournament is held at the club each year, the longest running trade event at the same venue in NZ. This year on 16th September 2018, Pompallier Tennis Club honoured the long term relationship with the resurfaced court 2 being named the “Clive Weston Court”. Clive Weston, Negociants NZ Managing Director was in attendance for the ceremony and served the first ball on the newly named court.

Clive Weston with the Pompallier Tennis Club committee

There is plenty more news from 2018 and some exciting things ahead in 2019 in this edition of The Negociant, so please do check it all out.

On behalf of the Negociants NZ Team
Tina Rutherford