The annual Toast Martinborough festival drew crowds of revellers to the Wairarapa last month, to sip, taste and dance the day away between the vines.
The renowned wine-growing village has held the popular festival since 1992, and this year up to 8000 people flocked to nine different wineries to experience the best in wine, food and music.
Wine buffs were delighted by a myriad offerings, including a bubbles bar at Margrain Vineyard, vegan wines at Tirohana Estate, organics at Vynfields and the silken sweetness of dessert wine Apres at Muirlea Rise. Ata Rangi offered a special Toast chardonnay, while Martinborough's revered pinot noir style was showcased at Luna Estate. Nearby, a rose and vintage bar at Te Kairanga and Martinborough Vineyard complemented a day that while grey and humid, was still summery.
Over 50 menu items were also on offer, whipped up by 13 different caterers, while music from artists such as Delaney Davidson and his Ghost Orchestra, the Fox and the Woolf, Irish cover band The Shennanigans and the Wellington City Shake Em On Downers provided the soundtrack to the day.
Horowhenua Chronicle reporters Sadie Beckman and Ashleigh Collis joined in the fun with photographer Keyhan Kaveh to capture the atmosphere of this now-iconic event.
