Toast a sellout in six hours

Toast Martinborough tickets sold out within a day of going on sale yesterday.

Tickets for the November 18 wine and food festival went on sale at 9am and all 10,000 were sold by 3pm.

Toast Martinborough general manager Rachael Fletcher said organisers were delighted with the response, which demonstrated the continuing popularity of an iconic event.

"For the past 20 years Toast Martinborough has delivered a world-class festival experience - superb wines, delicious food and outstanding entertainment in New Zealand's most picturesque wine village."

She said four out of five festival goers would have been to the event before, and organisers looked forward to welcoming them back and giving newcomers a treasured experience.

Alana Estate, Ata Rangi, Escarpment, Margrain Vineyard, Martinborough Vineyard and Burnt Spur Vineyard, Muirlea Rise, Palliser Estate, Te Kairanga Wines, Tirohana Estate and Vynfields are taking part, with plenty of music and food on offer as well as their usual fare.

Ms Fletcher would not make any comment about measures which would be taken to ensure last year's reported high levels of intoxication were not repeated.

Masterton police senior sergeant Carolyn Watson said police would have a significantly increased presence at this year's event in order to monitor intoxication levels and vendors' licence compliance. Police would be meeting Toast Martinborough ticket holders off buses and trains and at the gates to check for anyone who had being drinking before the event.

"We're not there to stop people from having fun, we're there to stop that small minority who spoil other people's fun."

She said police would not be heavy handed and would not be routinely breathalysing festival-goers, but relying on observation.

"It's pretty obvious when somebody has preloaded, slurring and stumbling, especially at that time of the morning."

Ms Watson said it was a well-run event and that police were there to support organisers.