Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival

Wellington's annual boutique wine festival will be taking place on 9th March 2019 in the Wairarapa; New Zealand's Pinot Noir capital - Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival.

Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival has been a popular event on the region's summer calendar for more than a decade. Held on the banks of the Ruamahunga River in the Gladstone wine growing region, the festival is a great place to sample some of the area's top drops, as well a range of delicious foodie treats featuring regional produce.

There will also be an emphasis on entertainment throughout the day featuring a variety of live music, art exhibitions and static displays ensuring that all tastes are catered for.

The 2019 event marks 13 years of the festival, and event organiser Liz Pollock says the combination of a great atmosphere, stunning location and fabulous local fare is what makes it so special - "Harvest showcases the really unique essence of the local wine making industry and personalities in it. And the location is stunning. It's terrific to see the pure enjoyment of festival goers dancing and singing their hearts out to great songs among the trees".

At Harvest, vineyards pair up with regional restaurants to produce a range of outstanding dishes. Festival goers can sample the fare till their heart's content, and take their pick of wines from not only the larger, better known wineries of the region, but also from some of the area's smaller, boutique producers. There's plenty of time to meet the wine makers, and ample space to relax and soak up the live music and fun festival vibe.

The sheltered riverside setting is close to both Masterton and Carterton, which is only 1 hr 15 from Wellington, making it the perfect Wairarapa day out!

What's more… proof of the region's commitment to wine is demonstrated through an increase of new wine bars in the area, one of them being The Wine Bank in Martinborough. Situated in an 110 year old former BNZ building, there are self-service Wineemotion machines which contain an incredible variety of 64 vintages, allowing people to taste as they please. There are also 5 tasting rooms, which are perfect for people in larger groups or intimate gatherings. 3/4 of the wines are local Wairarapa vintages with the remaining 1/4 being from wines around the country. This is most definitely an unforgettable and unique experience to be had by all!