Event Details
Sep 16 - Sep 18
Toitoi - Assembly Ballroom
Eventfinda listing:
Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium 2026
17–18 September 2026
Toitoi: Hawke’s Bay Arts and Event Centre, Hastings
The Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium returns to Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke’s Bay for its third edition, bringing together the New Zealand wine community for two days of focused discussion, tasting and exchange.
The theme of the 2026 symposium is quality, with a programme focussed on the unique features that define our whenua (land), climate, and philosophy, and how these elements come together to enable the production of premium Chardonnay.
Attendees can expect a curated lineup of benchmark wines, including international comparisons and rare examples, alongside contributions from leading local and international voices.
Sessions span the full arc of production and presentation, including:
– defining quality in a global context
– below-ground influences such as soil biology and plant health
– above-ground vineyard decisions including canopy and harvest timing
– case studies from leading producers
– conversations around style, texture and storytelling
// PROGRAMMING:
Wednesday 16 September
Welcome Gathering (evening)
Thursday 17 September
Day One Symposium: 8:00am – 5:00pm (coffee available from 7am)
Delegate Celebration (evening)
Friday 18 September
Day Two Symposium: 8:00am – 4:00pm (coffee available from 7am)
// TICKET OPTIONS:
Two-Day Symposium Pass — $995 + GST
– Full access to both symposium days
– Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea on both days
– Wednesday Welcome Gathering
– Thursday Delegate Celebration
Single Day Pass — $495 + GST
– Access to one symposium day
– Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
Welcome Gathering — $50 + GST
Wednesday 16 September
Delegate Celebration — $95 + GST
Thursday 17 September
A collaborative forum for the Aotearoa wine community to assess where we are, and where we are going, in the pursuit of exceptional Chardonnay.
