The Marlborough Wine Weekend – Mark The Date

Press Release

June 13, 2011

The Marlborough Wine Weekend – Mark The Date

• Over 200 Wine Lovers Expected

• Dozens of Marlborough’s top wines and Gourmet Cuisine

A limited number of tickets to the third biennial Marlborough Wine Weekend will go on sale next month and organisers are expecting them to be snapped up quickly.

The three-day weekend from October 28 – 30, will allow visitors to explore the varying landscapes and wines of Marlborough, New Zealand’s internationally renowned wine region.

The scene will be set for a wine and food extravaganza, with a picnic brunch in the stunning grounds of historic Lake Timara Lodge.

Guests will then be whisked off to the first ever Wine Weekend Master Class series at selected Marlborough wineries. Winemakers will provide guests with an exclusive insight into the intricacies involved in blending and making award-winning wine.

With that knowledge behind them, the visitors will have an opportunity to taste the array of styles produced in Marlborough, at the Twilight Garden Party. Local chefs, including Maree Connolly of Hotel d’Urville, will utilise the best produce from the region and prepare a tantalising array of dishes to match the wines.

The distinct qualities of the three sub regions of Marlborough; Wairau, Awatere and Southern Valleys, will be explained during intimate tours, hosted by winemakers and viticulturists. The tours will culminate in The Long Lunch – a stunning event where Marlborough’s array of aromatics will be the focus.

The ultimate food and wine matching will take place during the Marlborough Gourmet Feast on Saturday night, held once again in the fairy-tale like grounds of Timara Lodge. The 300 guests will be treated to a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience, with guest chef Des Harris, of Auckland’s award winning Clooney Restaurant, creating a delectable menu to match a selection of Marlborough’s rare vintage wines.

Wine Marlborough Events Manager Sarah Booker says the fascination with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is not diminishing and she expects there will be a large contingent of overseas visitors keen to learn more. The added attraction is Marlborough Pinot Noir, which in recent years has come of age and is consistently grabbing headlines for its outstanding quality.

“When people think of Marlborough, they tend to think Sauvignon Blanc. Understandably we are very proud of that. We are also very proud of the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aromatics and Sparkling wines that are produced here. The Marlborough Wine Weekend wants to showcase all of those wines and the gourmet food this region produces. Quite frankly, this is a not to be missed event. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.”

Tickets for the Marlborough Wine Weekend go on sale 1st July 2011 and are available at www.marlboroughwineweekend.co.nz

ENDS

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