Festival News
HARVEST FESTIVAL TICKETS RIPE FOR THE PICKING!
Tickets for the 2010 Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival go on sale from 9.00am on Wednesday 18 November 2009 and while organizers aren’t expecting the 5 minute sell out record achieved by last weekend’s Toast Martinborough event, they are so confident of achieving a capacity crowd of 2000 people this time that, for the first time, there will be no gate sales available on the day. “For what is still a relatively new event the Harvest Festival has already got a very loyal following and pre ticket sale interest this year has been unprecedented with groups being put together from all over the country” says event manager Liz Pollock.
The Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival, in association with Nissan NZ, is fast becoming recognized as one of Wairarapa’s unique, iconic events showcasing sensational wines and food from throughout the Wairarapa region and the 2010 festival will celebrate the beginning of the grape harvest on Saturday March 20.
When asked what was so special about the Harvest Festival Liz Pollock commented “I think that the Harvest Festival offers a relaxed alternative to other events and captures that very unpretentious, community feel of rural events that we grew up with.”
Sixteen of Wairarapa’s finest wineries and seven of its highest profile restaurants and food producers will showcase their wares set amongst ancient native trees in the Festival’s spectacular riverside setting in the popular Wairarapa wine growing area of Gladstone. Visitors to the Festival will have the opportunity to sample wines from not only the larger, better known wineries but also from some of the smaller boutique wineries in the region.
In keeping with the informality of the event visitors will also have the opportunity to meet the wine makers from the vineyards involved giving them an insight into the wide variety and styles of wine available in the region.
The restaurants on the other hand will focus on presenting some of the great local food and produce that the Wairarapa has to offer - Rabbit Pie, Goats Meat Brochette, Ngawi Cod & Crayfish Cakes, Venison Burgers and Wairarapa Wild Pork & Pistachio Terrine are just some of the delicacies that have featured on previous menus.
The remoteness and vineyard setting is part of the site’s appeal however being only 10 minutes from both Masterton and Carterton makes it close enough to public transport to make it very accessible to those staying locally and those visiting for the day from outside the region.
As in the past, there will be an emphasis on entertainment throughout the day with four live bands, art exhibitions and static displays ensuring that all tastes are catered for.
Tickets to the 2010 Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival will be available through all Ticketek outlets, by phoning 0800 TICKETEK, online through www.ticketek.co.nz or locally from the Masterton and Martinborough Information Centres.
The Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival is proudly supported by Nissan NZ, Trust House, Solid Gold FM, Spring Graphics, Provincial Insurance Brokers, Bayleys Real Estate, Wine Works, Greenlees Print / Rapid Labels and the BNZ.
For further information contact
Liz Pollock
Event Manager
Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival
Phone 027 4774717
Email festival@wairarapawines.co.nz