Wine bar is ready to pop some corks

Charles Gear of Clearview Estate Winery and Janine Bevege, sales and marketing associate, of Trinity Hill, are setting up shop at the Farmlands Horse of the Year Show's first wine bar. Photo / Duncan Brown

This year's Farmlands Horse of the Year Show will sport its first wine bar, in a premium space inside an expanded main arena.

Show director Kevin Hansen said the arena's surrounding marquees were set back this year to make room for three hospitality areas "which worked well because we have more trade stands we needed to fit in".

Clearview Estate Winery and Trinity Hill, sponsors of the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds event in Hastings for the past five years, have combined forces to provide a venue for imbibing while watching activities in front of the main grandstand.

Open next week from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, the Wine Bar will also provide food. On Wednesday it will stay open until 9pm for those visiting the Farmers' Night Market, when people are welcome to bring in their market fare to eat with a glass or two of wine.

"We wanted to create an easy, relaxed environment where people can enjoy the action over a glass of wine," Clearview sales and marketing general manager Charles Gear said.

"We think it'll be a great meeting spot for many of the competitors, their local friends, and for trade exhibitors who would like to do business away from their stands."

Trinity Hill chief executive Michael Henley said its sponsorship had been a great for the winery.

"It is not a way for us to make a huge amount of money, it is a way to connect with a different set," he said.

"It is a great local event, we enjoy the people who go and it is a great way to bring more people to the community."