Party a 'fabulous start' to F.A.W.C!

TASTE BUDDIES: Giant Brewing director Chris Ormond (left) talks craft ale with food celebrity Ray McVinnie at the launch of F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic at Black Barn Vineyard yesterday. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

Taste buds were surrounded before surrendering at F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic's Summer Series Launch Party last night.

The second of 76 F.A.W.C! events at Black Barn Vineyard's Market Round gave partygoers no chance of escaping exquisite Hawke's Bay food and drink with dozens of stalls assailing taste buds.

Aucklander Sean McBride said he timed a visit to his daughter with FAWC!

"It is a wonderful chance to experience Hawke's Bay wine and food," he said.

"I don't know if Hawke's Bay is that renowned for its food, but I know I'm changing my mind."

Craggy Range's marketing and hospitality general manager Aaron Drummond was pouring 2013 Syrah.

"FAWC! is fantastic for the community " it brings in so many people from outside of Hawke's Bay and is also a great opportunity for wine, beer and food producers to get together," he said.

Cuisine magazine food editor and former MasterChef judge Ray McVinnie has been involved with F.A.W.C! from its inception in 2012.

"What I like about the people that organise these events is they set the trends, they don't follow them. They are very original, very creative and imaginative.

"I've been to things like this overseas and we should be promoting this more to the world. The Japanese would be going nuts over this " I think it is great."

On the invitation of Tourism New Zealand, Chinese travel/food social media site Xfun was filming the event for its 300 million followers.

The Olive Press managing director Wayne Startup was drizzling oil over delicacies.

"It is a great opportunity for Hawke's Bay to showcase its wonderful produce and interact with others in the food and wine industry," he said.

Tourism Hawke's Bay general manager Annie Dundas said the busy party was "a fabulous start" to F.A.W.C!

"The concept of F.A.W.C! is now widely understood - we are starting to see people come from further afield," she said.

"People are getting the whole idea of coming for the weekend for a couple of events and seeing more of the region. We are really delighted." She said F.A.W.C!'s overlap with the Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival was a good thing, showing visitors many aspects to the region.

Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said the launch party was a "perfect start".

"It has put us on the map, nationally and internationally. It symbolises everything we do," he said.

Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO Wayne Walford said F.A.W.C! showcased the region's best. "It is part of the network of marketing that helps to show off the best of our strengths, both to locals and visitors," he said.

Ms Dundas said from Tourism Hawke's Bay's perspective success was more visitors from out of town "bringing new money".

"Also when they're in Auckland buying their fresh veg and wine maybe they will buy some Hawke's Bay products."