Waiheke Island Wine Festival Update

Waiheke Island Wine Festival Update

Indulge your senses at the second annual

Waiheke Island Wine Festival.

On Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February, 2004 the island's finest wines will be showcased in a spectacular event combining fine wine, gourmet food and live entertainment.

Come and share the secrets of Waiheke's most exclusive wineries with your hosts Cable Bay Vineyards, Goldwater Estate, Mudbrick, Onetangi Road Vineyards, Peninsula Estate, Saratoga Estate and Stonyridge

Sample internationally renowned wines like Goldwater Esslin Merlot and Stonyridge Larose.

Celebrate with Stonyridge as they, for the first time, open the cellar to offer a vertical tasting of this much acclaimed "evocative" wine.

"For its arresting power, complexity and richness, and sheer vintage-to-vintage brilliance, Stonyridge Larose must be ranked as New Zealand's greatest claret-style red."

Michael Cooper, Wine Atlas of New Zealand 2003

Be amongst the first to taste the latest releases including the new Saratoga Estate premium vintage "Veritas", the full range from Cable Bay Vineyards, and the biggest selection of Waiheke wines ever assembled in one location at Onetangi Rd Vineyard. All wines will be available by the glass.

Indulge in a delicious array of gourmet fare. Whitebait fritters served how they should be, jam packed with whitebait, and Crayfish tails on the BBQ at Peninsula Estate. The irresistible culinary combination of Simon Gault and Eyenta Livingston (3rd place Hells Kitchen) will be cooking up a storm at Stonyridge and Bistro Prime will be offering a casual but sophisticated BBQ and Rotisserie menu at Goldwater Estate.

Relax amongst the vines to music from Caitlin Smith & the Fondue Set, Union,

Goldenhorse, Paua Nation, Tongue and Groove, Hammond Gamble,

Pat Urlich, Paul Ubana Jones, One Million Dollars and more.

Tickets to this premium event are limited and priced at $60 (or $84 including a return Fullers ferry ticket) which includes your Festival tasting glass, entry to seven venues, all day entertainment and a Fullers Festival bus link to shuttle you between the vineyards so you can savour the glorious views as well as the wines!

Festival tickets on sale now. Book at Ticketek 09 307 5000.

To receive the official newsletter of the Waiheke Island Wine Festival send your name and email address to festival@waihekewine.co.nz or register at the festival website www.waihekewinefestival.co.nz .

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