TV winner joins winery tour

New Zealand's Got Talent winner Clara van Wel is set to play two Wairarapa gigs as part of concerts at Martinborough's Alana Estate and Mangatainoka's Tui Brewery.

Ms van Wel will tour New Zealand next month as a special guest on the Classic Hits Winery Tour and is due to play in Martinborough on Saturday, February 9, and in Mangatainoka on Sunday, February 10.

She will open each show with a 20-minute acoustic set. "I'm excited to be on my first proper tour and I can't wait to show New Zealand more of my music."

Van Wel joins the existing line-up of Fat Freddy's Drop, Anika, Boh & Hollie and The Adults, featuring Jon Toogood and Julia Deans, on the 17-date tour starting on February 2 at Ascension Wine Estate in Matakana.

The 15-year-old student from Blenheim won the hearts and votes of the New Zealand public with her original compositions and poignant performances.

In December she released her debut single, Where Do You Find Love, which debuted at No3 on the NZ Singles Chart. She is recording her debut album, which will be released in March.

She is no stranger to the Winery Tour stage, having already opened her local show in early 2012 at Villa Maria Winery, Blenheim, when the promoter, Civic Events, invited her to perform after seeing her clips on You Tube.

Co-promoter Campbell Smith says it is exciting to have Clara back for the full tour this year.

"We have known for more than a year how brilliant Clara is. Now the rest of the country knows and Winery Tour fans are going to get a chance to see her perform live. It is rare for us to add an extra artist to the bill, but Clara is such a special talent, she will really add something to what is already an exceptional line-up."

For tickets see www.winerytour.co.nz and Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 or www.ticketmaster.co.nz.