Pinot Noir NZ
Venita Simcox has come a long way since she tried her first red wine – a 1982 Château Margaux – and hated it.
19 January
Festival Road, a picturesque 2.5km stretch between The Runholder and Ata Rangi, will be closed to traffic during Toast Martinborough. Walk the short distance between festival sites, or catch the Festival Shuttle, connecting Martinborough Square and the festival with a hop-on and off buss. Toast Martinborough 2025 boasts new festival hours, from 11am to 7pm, allowing for a lingering evening on Wellington's long anniversary weekend.
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Pinot Noir Workshop
23-25 January
Rob Walters and Rémi Jacquemain, from Place of Changing Winds in Australia's Macedon Rangers, are speaking at the 2025 Southern Pinot Noir Workshop, to be held at the Hanmer Hotel in Hanmer Springs from 23-25 January. Discussions include high density planting, canopy management, Poussard pruning, marketing potential, and how to improve the image and sales of New Zealand Pinot Noir domestically and abroad. There will also be a Burgundy tasting, presented by French winemakers, and an Australian Pinot tasting, presented by Steve Flamsteed.
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Marlborough Wine & Food
8 February
Celebrity chef Al Brown and deliciousness influencer Polly Markus, of Miss Polly's Kitchen, will be firing up food fever at New Zealand's longest-running wine and food festival this February. Marlborough Wine & Food Festival Event Manager Loren Coffey says Al will work with Regal Salmon, fresh from the Marlborough Sounds, in the always-popular Culinary Pavilion, while Polly will bring the "vibrant energy" that makes her a favourite among food lovers. With more than 30 wineries and 20 food providers, festival-goers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to pairing world famous wines with delectable dishes, she adds. "The classic festival experience is great wine and food. And it just gets better from there as we layer on the entertainment and inspiration."
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Pinot Noir New Zealand
11-13 February
The lineup for Pinot Noir New Zealand 2025 just gets better and better, with Eric Asimov - a global authority on wine and Chief Wine Critic for The New York Times - the latest on the list. With more than two decades of experience, Eric will bring his unique perspective, exploring how 'place' shapes the identity of New Zealand Pinot Noir on the world stage.
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Roam Central 2025
15 & 16 February
Indulge in a two-day exploration of Central Otago's wine and food offerings, including an "immersive experience" on Saturday 15 February. Saturday also sees 'Welcome Dinners' at Carrick Winery & Restaurant and the Bannockburn Hotel, with Roam Central guests offered an evening of storytelling and connection, and a menu that celebrates the region's finest produce and wines. Festivities continue on Sunday 16 February, with Amisfield Estate, nestled at the foothills of Mount Pisa, offering guests a behind-the-scenes glimpse into its working vineyard and winery, and a lunch crafted by Amisfield Restaurant Executive Chef Vaughan Mabee. The Finale Dinner will be held at at Cloudy Bay, with winegrowers and Weekend Explorer Pass holders coming together to celebrate.
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Wairarapa Harvest Festival
15 February
wairarapaharvestfestival.co.nz
The Provincial Insurance Brokers Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival brings together the region's finest wineries, along with high-profile restaurants and passionate food producers, for a day of indulgence against a picturesque riverside setting.
North Canterbury Wine & Food
9 March
Thousands of food and wine lovers will gather at Glenmark Domain to celebrate the harvest in style at the 2025 North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival. Find pockets of entertainment under the oaks, immerse yourselves in conversations about local wine and produce, and fall in love with everything North Canterbury has to offer.
Ripe Festival
22 March
The Ripe Wānaka Wine and Food Festival will be back at Glendhu Bay in March, with 26 Central Otago wineries combined with an array of delicious food, live music and stunning scenery. The 2025 event includes the new "Wine Walk" series, featuring guided wine tours to meet local winemakers and enjoy curated tastings and food pairings. The Ripe Wine Lounge includes canapés and bubbles on arrival, while the Ripe Long Lunch offers a four-course meal with matching wines.
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Joseph Brinkley |
Organic & Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference
16-18 June
The Organic & Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference is about inspiring the future of winegrowing through sharing innovation, knowledge and networking. The programme, which will acknowledge the traditions of Matariki and the winter solstice, has themes of under the earth, above the ground, and into the sky - ki raro, ki runga, ki te rangi - with topics including climate change, biodiversity, soil health, biodynamics and regenerative viticulture. Keynote speakers include Joseph Brinkley, Director of Regenerative Organic Farming at Bonterra Organic Estates in the United States, and Katia Nussbaum, who, together with her husband Luigi, runs San Polino, a regenerative organic winery in southern Tuscany. The line-up also includes former Sommelier Rajat Parr, an organic winegrower who has become a big name in the United States' wine scene, and Dr Mike Joy, a New Zealand freshwater specialist and advocate.
Grape Days 2025
5 June - Central Otago
10 June - Marlborough
12 June - Hawke's Bay
Grape Days are funded by the New Zealand Winegrowers' levy and delivered through Bragato Research Institute. Now in its 17th year, the one-day technical events held in Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, and Central Otago provide high-level overviews of research with a practical focus to help members apply the findings.
Save the Date - ICCWS
25-28 January 2026
