Best Sommelier Fundraiser, NZ Somm Comps, Spy Valley Tasting

Hello everyone

As we counting down to our major fundraising effort for the ASI World Best Sommelier Competition, we hope you can join us on Thursday 25 June at 6pm at Webbs Gallery in Mt Eden.

Tickets are $55 per person and include a selection of  wine from Normanby Fine Wines, along with canapés prepared by students of the New Zealand School of Food and Wine. 

We are also excited about the fundraising auction, with proceeds will go directly to our association. And, if you have some wine or a bespoke experience that you would like to donate for the auction, please don't hesitate to contact me.

We are into the Blind Wine Tasting season over the winter months. The Wairarapa Competition is on Thursday 18 June at 6pm followed by Dinner at Nara. The Auckland Competition is on Monday 6 July at 5pm. The final competition with be on Sunday 2 August at 3pm. 

Travel Scholarships $500 

We are delighted to announce that we have a small number of travel scholarships for people outside of Auckland to fund their travel to attend the New Zealand Sommelier and Junior of the Year Competition which runs on Sunday 2 August from 9am and concludes with an Awards Dinner in the evening.

This is an important day for people to grow their hospitality skills and build new career opportunities.

Cameron Douglas and the team of Sommelier Edit will again run the 100 Top New Zealand Sommeliers which will be announced at an event in early September. Look here to find out more. 

On June 15, we are delighted to welcome winemaker Alessandro Carraro of Spy Valley, a foundation NZ Sommelier partner, to share their wines following their recent success at the London Wine show and being awarded New Zealand Winery of the year. Register here.

Reminder that our AGM will take place on Sunday 2 August at 1pm.

With best wishes,

Celia Hay

Blind Wine Tasting Events

Join us for our blind wine tasting events this winter. 

Wairarapa Blind Tasting Competition: Thursday 18 June 6-8pm

Register here: Team of 4 or as an Individual $75 

Auckland Blind Tasting: Monday 6 July 5-7pm 

Register here: Team of 4 or as an Individual $75 

ASI Certificate 1 Examinations 2026

 

ASI Certificate 1 Monday 16 July 2026 Register here.

ASI Certificate 2 Monday 9 November 2026 Register here.

New Zealand Sommelier and Junior Sommelier of the Year 2026

Please join us for our annual competition and celebration of our hospitality and tourism world.

This is an opportunity to learn and develop more skills and give you confidence to shine.

We would like to encourage people under 26 who are working in hospitality to have a go! The Junior Competition is not as rigorous as the Senior but still helps you to develop and enhance your skills.

Learn more here. 

For those you beyond Auckland, we have a travel scholarships available for up to $500. These are limited so please do not wait to apply.

Here is the link to the questions that you will need to email us with.

For both competitions, you need to be a member of the NZ Sommeliers and Wine Professionals. Annual Membership $75

Join here.