A sip in the sun
The first Sunday in March heralds the return of the North Canterbury Wine and Food Festival.
Once again, under the oaks at Waipara’s Glenmark Domain, the best producers, vintners, and artisans in the region converge.
The cream of North Canterbury wine will be there, and as a prelude to the annual wine harvest, the best of the region’s wineries will be offering tastings and glasses of their best drops, with bottle sales too.
This year’s vintners include French Peak Vineyard, Black Estate, Greystone, Dancing Water Winery, Tiki Wine, Mt Beautiful, Pegasus Bay, and Main Divide, alongside many other producers. Amberley-based Brew Moon will be pouring pints, and The Alchemist Mixology will put together unique cocktails.
Not forgetting the ‘food’ part, the festival brings together favourite local chefs, bakers, makers, and food trucks for a juicy festival feast. This year’s vendors include sweet treats from Tablebloom, fan-favourite Fush, gourmet hotdogs from Mr Wolf, My Patch of Dirt doing awesome things with oysters (an oyster Danish, anyone?), tacos and taquitos from Roma, and wagyu burgers from Black Burger, among many other local hospitality legends. There will also be plenty of freshly roasted coffee being slung and ice cream to top it off.
To feed your curiosity, there is the Talk Tent, which is hosted by Avenues this year. Here, you’ll be able to engage with the best wine producers, chefs, and makers from the region as they share their visions of showcasing quality produce from the land and sea. You’ll even be able to try some of the produce from the panellists. Avenues Food Editor Sam Parish will be the MC for the day. You might even catch some of the editorial team behind a BBQ!
On top of purchasing bottles to take home, you can also pick up gifts and groceries. There will be pottery from Strange Ceramics, sheep milk and cheese from Jones Family Farm and Sabelle, and homewares from Gecko Recycled Woodworks, among others.
Keeping you entertained while you sample the fare are three stages bursting with talent. The smaller jazz stage will host the New Zealand Army Band, Emma Rutherford, James Caughley, and After Five Jazz. The main stage will have you bopping away to Stephen McDaid, 1 Drop Nation, and The Eastern. For the clubbers out there, Mike Donaldson, Nik Mav, and DJ David Risdon will be on the decks at the DJ Stage.
The event is also family-friendly, with plenty for the little ones, including face painting and a petting zoo. Under 18-year-olds get in free!
Not to worry if you’re a sober driver, you’re well looked after!
The fee for entry is cheaper, and you will be wrist-banded on arrival and not permitted to drink any alcohol at the site. The sober driver wristband will give you access to all the fun with great food and non-alcoholic drinks available to purchase, as well as entry to all events in the ‘Talk Tent’ and entertainment!
General Admission Adult tickets include a festival wine-tasting glass, entry to all events on the day in the ‘Talk Tent,’ and entertainment throughout the day. Gate sales are also available. Tickets are still available for the festival. Let’s chat under the oaks on 3 March!