North Island Wine Festival Calendar
Head out to a wine festival in the North Island and enjoy local wine and food along with cooking demonstrations and much more.
Northland & Bay of Islands
- Savouring the Source - 8 November 2008
Held in conjunction with the Bay of Islands P&I Show, this is Northland's premier wine and food event. Food, juice, wine and olive oil producers exhibit alongside local cafés, or enjoy the cooking demonstrations from Northland's top chefs.
Waimate North Showgrounds, Showgrounds Road, Waimate North. For more details, visit www.bayofislands.co.nz/show
Auckland and Auckland Region
- Kumeu Beer Wine and Food Festival - February 2009
Spend the day enjoying fine wines and beers, gourmet cuisine and live bands. Held at Kumeu Showgrounds on Access Road. Phone Rodney i-SITE Visitor Centre on 09 448 5249; www.kumeufestival.blogspot.com
- Devonport Food, Wine and Music Festival - February 2009
Check out the great line-up of wines from all over the country, and try the tasty treats such as caviar, tapas, scallops, cheeses and venison burgers. Held at Windsor Reserve. Find out more at www.devonportwinefestival.co.nz
- Matakana Wine and Food Festival - March 2009
Enjoy the best of the region's wine and gourmet food teamed with live music in the beautiful grounds of Matakana Country Park, north of Matakana. Details on www.matakanawineandfoodfestival.co.nz
Waikato Region
- Kawhia Traditional Maori Kai Festival – February 2009
Enjoy a fun day of cultural activities, live music and mouth-watering, traditional and modern Maori kai (food).
Visit www.kawhiakaifestival.co.nz for more information.
- Te Awamutu Wine and Food Festival – March 2009
Come along for a great family day out featuring wineries, breweries, food stalls and live music. Held at Selwyn Park, opposite the Rose Gardens. Phone Te Awamutu Visitor Centre on 07 871 3259.
Coromandel Region
- Tairua Wine & Food Festival – 10 January 2009
Dine out on the region’s best with wild food stalls, wine, beer, entertainment and craft stalls. Phone Tairua Information Centre on 07 864 7575.
Bay of Plenty Region
- Tauranga Boutique Wine and Food Festival, March 2009
A blend of wine and food from top boutique wineries and restaurants, and a lively line-up of entertainment. Phone Tauranga i-SITE Visitor Centre on 07 578 8103
Central North Island Region
- BluesFeast – 25 January 2009
A tempting selection of fine wines, beers, food and live blues at Rotorua’s RAVE Gardens. Phone RAVE 07 348 9008. Visit www.blues.co.nz/bop-blues
Gisborne
- The Crayfish and Chardonnay Festival - 31 May 2009
Combines great entertainment together with a seven course degustation lunch. Visit www.gisbornewine.co.nz
Taranaki Region
- Taranaki Wine and Food Festival, February 2009
A laidback summer celebration of Taranaki’s wine and food teamed with local bands and a charity auction. Visit www.taranakiwineandfood.co.nz
Manawatu/Whanganui region
- Bushy Park Food & Wine Festival – 18 January 2009
Fantastic food, wine, crafts, music and dancing in the stately grounds of Whanganui’s historic Bush Park Homestead. Visit www.bushypark.co.nz
Hawke's Bay
- Cellarbrate - February 2009
Taste the region's wine, food, music and art with moveable concert feasts at Waikoko Gardens and Hawke's Bay Gardens and Hawke's Bay Opera House, Sunset Sessions atTrinity Hill Winery and the Contemporary Country Music Festival.
For more details, visit www.cellarbrate.co.nz
- Harvest Hawke's Bay - February 2009
Wine and music lovers get to indulge as wineries around Hawke's Bay open their cellar doors, welcoming visitors with wine tasting, live music and special events including the Church Road Jazz concert.
For more details, visit www.harvesthawkesbay.co.nz
Wairarapa
- Toast Martinborough - 16 November 2008
Now in its 17th year, Toast Martinborough is the annual showcase of quality wine produced in the award winning region. Held on the third Sunday in November, the festival sees the population of the small Wairarapa town swell tenfold as wine and food lovers from throughout the country come to celebrate the release of the new vintage and enjoy New Zealand’s premium wine, food and music festival.
Each of the 12 participating vineyards features a selection of new and limited release wines superbly matched to culinary delights from Wellington and the Wairarapa’s top restaurants, and accompanied by some of New Zealand’s finest live entertainment. With most of the largely boutique vineyards located within walking distance of each other, the festival provides a unique opportunity to sample some of the world’s best wines within a charming wine village atmosphere.
Join Friends of Martinborough for preferential booking options. For further details or to join Friends online see www.toastmartinborough.co.nz or email friends@toastmartinborough.co.nz.
- Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival - March 2009
Wairarapa's wineries and leading local restaurants and food producers showcase their wares at this gourmet wine and food event held in the spectacular grounds of The Cliffs Riverside Reserve. For more information, visit www.wairarapawines.co.nz/harvestindex.html
Wellington
- Trentham Music Wine & Racing Festival - January 2010
Enjoy the racing action combined with live music, boutique wines, freshly brewed beers and food matches from Wellington's leading restaurants. Held at Trentham Racecourse. Details here.
More information
Images courtesy of Go Wairarapa