New Zealand Food & Wine
New Zealand's cool climate and long growing season is ideal for grape growing, making the wine produced here some of the most distinctive and quality wines on the market. New Zealand has three main grape growing areas, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne's dry sunny region in the east and Marlborough on the South Island's northeast, however Auckland, Queenstown, Martinborough, Canterbury and Nelson are also important grape growing areas.
Most wineries are conveniently located within minutes of major towns and cities and offer beautiful gardens, onsite restaurants and cellar door tastings. Wine tours are also available but casual visitors are more than welcome.
Food & Wine Festivals
January
Queenstown JazzFest: Enjoy a great range of entertainment including some top notch jazz accompanied by fantastic food and wine.
Taste Gisborne: Bringing together Gisborne's best food and beverage producers as well as the region's top wineries in one venue, Taste Gisborne is a food and wine extravaganza.
Harvest Hawke's Bay Weekend: With 29 wineries, 2 farmer's markets, 6 workshops and 25 shuttle buses to get you from A to B, this Hawke's Bay weekender brings together art, music, food and wine.
February
Waiheke Island Wine Festival: An experience unlike anywhere else in the world, this wine festival brings together a spectacular maritime location and world class wines.
Devonport (Auckland) Wine & Food Festival: The scenic village of Devonport plays host to 30 stalls showcasing the country's best food and wine and two stages of non-stop entertainment.
Church Road Jazz, Napier: The biggest food, wine and jazz event in New Zealand, this indulgent extravaganza is held annually on the first Saturday in February.
Marlborough Wine & Food Festival: Sample more than 200 wines from 40 of Marlborough's best wineries at the country's premier jazz, food and wine festival.
Hokonui Moonshiners Festival, Gore, Southland: Centred around the legend of Hokonui Moonshine, this outdoor event brings together fine wine, whisky and southern cuisine.
Whangarei Wine & Food Festival: Held at the Barge Showgrounds, this Whangarei festival offers a taste of the northland.
Wairarapa Wine & Food Festival: Held in Masterton at the historic showgrounds of Solway, world class entertainment accompanies fine wine and cuisine throughout the day.
Jade Wine & Food Festival of Canterbury: Local musicians provide the soundtrack for this entertaining festival offering a variety of tastes, sights and sounds in beautiful North Hagley Park
March
Hokitika Wildfoods Festival: Celebrating the food, hospitality and lifestyle of the West Coast, this festival offers unique tastes.
Hooked on Seafood, Nelson: Indulge where the seafood is abundant, the chefs are skilled, the wine is delicious, the waterfront is beautiful and the music, dancing and comedy will leave you buzzing.
April
Bluff Oyster & Southland Seafood Festival: This annual event celebrates the Southland's superior seafood including the famous Bluff Oysters as well as local beverages and crafts.
May
BrewNZ - Celebrating Great Beer, Wellington: Discover the ancient art of craft brewing with a journey through taste at this beer celebration.
June
The Food Show, Wellington: The place for foodies, cuisine connoisseurs and gourmet lovers to sample the widest range of food and drink at New Zealand's premier food event.
October
International Chardonnay Challenge, Gisborne: The New Zealand wine industry's high calibre competition, visitors are sure to enjoy the best of the best.
Pacifica Kaikoura Seafest: Celebrate the bounty of Kaikoura at this unique festival offering a food and beverage extravaganza.
November
Toast Martinborough: Vineyards participate in this fantastic event providing perfectly matched fine wines and culinary delights from Wairarapa and Wellington accompanied by live entertainment.
