The Rees Hotel Queenstown Wins US Wine Spectator Excellence Award

True South Dining Room is one of only seven top tier New Zealand restaurants to be awarded the 2012 Award of Excellence by US wine and hospitality magazine, Wine Spectator.

The internationally acclaimed Wine Spectator’s annual Excellence Awards recognise a wine list of 100 or more quality wine selections that thematically match a restaurant’s cuisine.

True South Dining Room has an exclusive library of Bordeaux wines with vintages selected from all the great houses of Bordeaux.  Wines from world-renown chateaux such as Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, Gruaud Larose, Malescot St Exupery and Lynch Bages nestle with the best wines of Central Otago and New Zealand in the professionally-managed, temperature-controlled wine cellar servicing the hotel and restaurant’s Bordeau Wine Lounge.

Candice Chow, The Rees Hotel and True South Dining Room Food & Beverage Operations Manager says it’s the restaurants ability to match exquisite wine with fresh local dishes in addition to an entire wine programme – which includes tastings, wine pairing and the True South Culinary Series – that sets the restaurant apart for this award.

A great supporter of local vineyards, True South hosts the Culinary Series in conjunction with prestigious New Zealand wineries throughout the year – John Buck of Te Mata Estate Winery will present the next event, September 12th.

True South Dining Room is the only New Zealand new entrant to pick up the international Wine Spectator accolade. The Rees CEO Mark Rose says it’s recognition of the effort they have put into building a world-class cellar while confirming their place as one of New Zealand’s elite dining experiences.

“Wine Spectator is known as an industry bible so to have this tribute from such a widely-read and esteemed reviewer is huge kudos.”

It’s not the first time the Queenstown restaurant has received accolades for its fine dining and wine list.  The restaurant was named as a Premier Award winner in the inaugural Taste of New Zealand Awards (TONZA) programme last year and Head Chef Ben Batterbury was selected as an Ambassador Chef in the 2012 Beef & Lamb Excellence Awards – a first for the tourism capital of Queenstown.

All Wine Spectator award winners are featured in Wine Spectator’s August issue which hits newsstands on July 24.

Background

The Rees Hotel, Queenstown, New Zealand

The Rees Hotel blends chic five star accommodation with all the comforts of home and the service and facilities of an elite international hotel.

Situated on the absolute lakefront, The Rees’ terraced construction delivers complete privacy and showcases panoramic views overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables Mountains in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Its landmark restaurant is the True South Dining Room.

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