Richard Nelson appeared before the Queenstown Lakes district licensing committee seeking, among other things, a caterers endorsement to allow him to provide wine tastings from the refurbished vehicle he callled ‘‘Amy Winedub'', despite not intending to provide food.
Mr Nelson is the founder and owner of The Winery New Zealand Ltd, which is based in Beach St in the resort where patrons can sample a variety of wines either as tastings, half or full glasses using the Enomatic Wine Serving System.
Mr Nelson told Judge Bill Unwin and committee members Lyal Cocks and John Mann the business was ‘‘a world-class experience of New Zealand wine'' and a leading part of wine tourism within the country and the region - the Beach St premises held more than 80 wines, some of which retailed for $1000 a bottle.
Patrons accessed the wine in store - and from the VW - using the automated system, which could be shut down at any time by staff.
But the name chosen for the vehicle was questioned by Public Health South medical officer of health Dr Derek Bell.
‘‘Obviously, you take a very reasoned approach to alcohol and the volume that you serve ... why have you based the name of this on a well-known celebrity, who was renowned for intoxication and inebriation?''
Mr Nelson said the similarities between the van's name and singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011 from accidental alcohol poisoning, were not intentional.
‘‘Someone pointed that out to me the other day.
‘‘It hadn't even occurred to me, to be honest.''
He bought the VW early in 2015 and began the refurbishment before applying for the endorsement.
Without it, he would require a special licence for every event.
Mr Nelson said he intended to use the VW as part of wider events, where food would be provided by other parties - for example, at conferences where he would provide wine tasting while in-house caterers would provide canapes before a dinner, or at the NZ Golf Open, as part of a wider hospitality offering.
He contended the legislation did not specify the holder of the caterers' endorsement needed to provide food.
He had plans to buy and retrofit a ‘‘race car trailer'' to transport the VW longer distances, that could also include room for picnic tables and stackable chairs, a glass washer, hot-water cylinder and a fridge.
While he told the committee he had not intended for the fridge to be at the standard required for food service, it could be done which - in combination with a stainless steel bench - would enable him to serve cheeseboards, as was done in the Beach St store.
However, Judge Unwin believed ‘‘Amy Winedub'' would ‘‘not be that popular'', particularly if it was set up at corporate or private events where free drinks were being passed around.
‘‘I suggest to you that as a matter of practicality it's not likely that you're going to be used as an avenue just to get a drink.''
The committee reserved its decision.
