Villa Maria Estate Winemaker Alastair Maling, MW to Participate in Live, Virtual Tasting February 5 to Celebrate New Zealand Wine Day

Villa Maria Group Winemaker Alastair Maling, MW, will participate in a live, virtual tasting in Chicago on February 5 to celebrate Waitangi Day or New Zealand Day. This virtual tasting, which wine lovers across the U.S. can sign up to join, is being organized in partnership with Complexity - New Zealand Fine Wine, a group of 21 leading wineries from eight diverse wine growing regions of New Zealand.

As Villa Maria Estate is a member of Complexity, Alastair Maling will join Jessica Altieri of “Just Jess” on WineChannelTV to host a tasting of award-winning New Zealand wines exquisitely paired with dishes from Chef Mike Morales of Chicago’s Sunda Restaurant on Saturday, February 5 from 7-9 PM CST at the Kenmore Live Studio, 678 N. Wells Street, Chicago.

Registration is free. Those 21 years and over can register at: http://klsnzwineday.eventbrite.com. The Live video portion of the show will take place from 7-8 PM CST, with live twitter and facebook feeds till 9 PM CST. All details leading up to the event can be found at facebook.com/nzwineday or on twitter at @nzwineday.

“We can’t bring everyone to New Zealand wine country so we are inviting people from around the United States to help us celebrate Waitangi Day and discover the quality and diversity of New Zealand wines by bringing a bit of New Zealand to them -- in both live and online formats,” stated Janet Pouchot, Complexity - New Zealand Fine Wine, U.S. Campaign Manager.

The New Zealand Wine Day celebration at the Kenmore Live Studio on February 5 will be broadcast via live interactive online video from the Kenmore Live Studio and on WineChannelTV. Viewers from around the United States (and from around the world) can engage in the live show through twitter and facebook with direct access to lively discussion about New Zealand, educational information on New Zealand wines, expert menu pairing tips and the opportunity for interactive live chat exchange with Complexity - Fine Wine New Zealand Winemakers celebrating Waitangi Day at their wineries and vineyards in New Zealand.

About Complexity – New Zealand Fine Wine Complexity brings together 21 of New Zealand’s leading wineries with a single purpose: to establish our nation’s credentials in the world of fine wine. These wineries are: Amisfield Wine Company, Ata Rangi, Cloudy Bay Vineyards, Craggy Range Vineyards, Escarpment, Felton Road Wines, Kumeu River Wines, Mt Difficulty Wines, Muddy Water Wines, Nautilus Estate, Neudorf Vineyards, Palliser Estate Wines, Pegasus Bay Winery, Quartz Reef, Saint Clair Family Estate, Seresin Estate, Spy Valley Wines, Trinity Hill, Vavasour Wines, Villa Maria Estate and Vinoptima Estate. The 59 fine wines in the Complexity portfolio showcase the diverse nature of our eight great wine growing regions, including: Auckland; Gisborne; Hawkes Bay; Martinborough; Nelson; Marlborough; Waipara; and Central Otago.

For further information on Complexity - New Zealand Fine Wine please visit: www.complexity.co.nz

# # #

For further information:
Jennifer Scott, Director of Communications
425/415-3354
jennifer.j.scott@smwe.com