Wine event to be full-bodied

There was plenty of fun and flavours at last year's festival which has seen this year's event more than double in size. Photo / Duncan Brown

The second Bridge Pa Wine Festival, set for January 23, is shaping up to be a sell-out which has left the organisers delighted.

Last year's festival, which centres around seven wineries in the Bridge Pa winegrowing region, saw 1000 tickets snapped up so it was decided to double that figure, and add a few more.

There are 2500 tickets for this year's festival with Bridge Pa Triangle chairman Paul Ham describing the sales so far as "incredible" and put it down to those who attended last year spreading the word.

He said while the ticket numbers had been increased the uniqueness of the festival would be retained, as would everyone's access to fine wine, fine food and entertainment.

"Every host winery has stepped up their offerings from last year and there is a very eclectic mix of entertainment," Mr Ham said, adding that to cope with the increased numbers more buses had been added to get festival-goers from venue to venue throughout the day.

"The beauty of the wineries in the Bridge Pa region is that we are all in close proximity to each other, so getting around whether by bus or cycling on the cycle tracks and enjoying the experience at each winery is achievable in a day," Mr Ham said.

Five bands had been confirmed to take part. Wellington rhythm and blues band Boutique will play at Paritua, Verdant Blue will play at Sileni Estate, Badger - featuring Martin Good from Classic Hits - will play at Ash Ridge, Ian Munro and special guests are lined up for Abbey Cellars and the Kawekas will take the stage at Ngatarawa Winery.

Mr Ham said leading chefs had been signed up, among them MasterChef finalists Nikki and Jordan who will host masterclasses at Hawke's Ridge Winery.