New Olive Harvest Festival in Martinborough: Pick, Press, Drizzle Or Pickle

A new ‘gastronomic affair’, the Martinborough Olive Harvest Festival will reveal everything you ever wanted to know about olives and olive oil, from tree to table.

The new festival will celebrate the winter crop with plenty of activity in the pretty Wairarapa village over the weekend of 29-30 June, 2013. Held in the midst of the olive harvest, festival-goers can choose from 10 activities including picking their own olives, watching the olive press in action and tasting the oil.

“Picking is harder than it looks,” says Martinborough event manager Susan McLeary.

“Some groves take the traditional approach with rakes and big mats to catch the olives, while others have embraced technology with a grunty tree-shaking machine. All options are on show at attractive groves around the village, and festival-goers can take their own olives home to pickle, with a recipe.

“Olive oil is an ancient ingredient yet relatively recent for most New Zealanders. We honour the harvest by starting with olive-themed lunches at various venues around Martinborough showcasing olive oil’s culinary versatility. There are educational and tasting sessions for Olive Virgins and would-be growers, and demonstrations to spark culinary creativity for food-lovers.

“New Zealand’s most highly rated international judge, Margaret Edwards, will present a Master Class for more experienced olive oil palates. She will cover how to taste different flavour components, identify different olive oil varieties and blend them into a harmonious whole to take home,” explains Mrs McLeary.

With no competing All Black match, Saturday hosts a sparkly Night Market in Martinborough’s unique Union Jack shaped Square. Massive oak trees will be lit with fairy lights, vineyard frost pots will also be lit and mulled wine will keep visitors warm as they meander around the “classy craft” stalls on show.

Tickets go on sale from 1 May, from www.martinborougholivefestival.co.nz. The Earlybird ticket price is $99+booking fee, and includes everything except the specialist workshops and Masterclass.

... ends

© Scoop Media