TOAST MARTINBOROUGH IN CONTENTION FOR TOP AWARD

18 April 2012

Wairarapa's premier wine and food festival is a finalist in one of the Wellington region's most prestigious award programmes.

Toast Martinborough – an annual sell-out event combining fine wine, gourmet food and live music – is one of 38 businesses shortlisted for the Wellington Gold Awards. It's one of just five in contention for the ‘Vibrant Gold' category, which recognises business excellence in events, visitor facilities and hospitality.

“This is the first time that Wairarapa has been included in the Awards, and we're delighted to have reached the shortlist,” says Rachael Fletcher, Toast Martinborough's General Manager.

The Toast Martinborough festival, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011, has become a ‘must do' event on the New Zealand wine and entertainment calendar. Tickets sell out in minutes, with visitors travelling from throughout New Zealand and offshore to enjoy a unique vineyard experience.

“The festival is a real success story for the vineyards, for Martinborough and for the wider Wairarapa region,” says Fletcher. “As well as delivering a superb visitor experience, it has raised the region's profile and put Martinborough on the map as a boutique winegrowing area producing world-class wines.

“It also generates significant income for the region, through both the festival itself and the range of accommodation options on offer, which are usually fully booked. It enables us to give back to the community, by donating to groups that help on the day and to organisations backing local projects, such as restoring the Martinborough Town Hall and establishing the Martinborough Medical Centre.”

The Wellington Gold Awards have been celebrating outstanding business performance since 1999. The 2012 winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 31 May.

DISH LOCAL FLAVOURS AWARD

There was a great range of dishes on offer for the ‘Dish Local Flavours Award' at Toast Martinborough 2011 – all combining wonderful regional produce and local wines.

Particular highlights included the 'Cassoulet' from Café Mirabelle matched with the Escaprment Pinot Noir 2009. The dish used locally sourced meats – with sausages made by the chef, and duck she had confited herself. Served in a cazuela with accompanying salad and bread, it was a unique take on festival food.

The 'Wharekauhau Lamb and Pork Burger' used meat from Wharekauhau's own farm and locally grown produce all of which made for a rib-stickingly tasty burger, paired with Te Kairanga Estate Pinot Noir 2009.

Sarah Searanke Catering also took a left of field approach to traditional festival food with a Lamb Tagine paired with the Alana Estate Pinot Noir. The tagine made great use of local ingredients, including Featherston's own Lavender's Green Preserved Lemons. It was rich and satisfying with a lovely, light herbaceous touch from the mint couscous.
 
The chef from Taste Vin had wonderful knowledge of and passion for using local produce and her pairing of Margrain Sauvignon Blanc 2010 with minted lamb was surprisingly tasty.  And the way the team at Guten Appetit explained all the local ingredients they'd incorporated into their Beef and Oyster pie was infectiously enthusiastic.

But the winner on the day was Ruth Pretty Catering with the 'Pirinoa Station Lamb, Sage and Olive Pie', matched with the Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2010. It was a simple concept taken to the next level with local lamb wrapped in a sour cream and Parmesan pastry giving the pie a rich, luscious flavour and accompanied by salad greens grown in Ruth's garden. It was hearty, flavoursome, beautifully presented and absolutely hit the spot.

FEW INCIDENCES AT THE 20TH TOAST MARTINBOROUGH

Despite a small number of incidents at Toast Martinborough Wine, Food and Music Festival, attendees are celebrating the fantastic day they had at the events' 20th anniversary on 20 November.

Seven time festival-goer and former All Black coach John Hart described the festival as “one of the best social events in New Zealand.

Toast Martinborough continues to be excellent and improve year on year, and is an event that in my opinion will outlast the lifespan of many of its counterparts.”

Another guest, Martin Snedden, portrayed the behaviour of attendees as fantastic. “There was a really nice atmosphere, and people were very considerate. I was impressed with the efforts put into host responsibility, with plenty of free water and reasonably priced non-alcoholic alternatives available. People could take their time and enjoy a whole range of food and beverage options.”

SPARC Chairman Paul Collins has attended at least 15 of the 20 festivals, and thought the event was “a day like any previous Toast, with everyone having a fantastic time.” 

Clive Weston, Managing Director of Negociants New Zealand Ltd, described the festival as a wonderful hassle free day, saying “From the village square, to each winery I visited, the happy throng appeared to be enjoying themselves immensely. Even on the buses people were in good spirits and very well behaved.  I overheard several remark on what a fantastic day they had enjoyed“.
 
Toast Martinborough Chair Richard Riddiford said that there were very few incidences of excessive behaviour, and although it would appear that there were some more instances of over-indulging, the vast majority had a fantastic day. “The number of people that over-indulged as a percentage of the total is tiny. The popularity for the event is reflected in the fact that 80% of attendees return year after year” he said.

Wairarapa Area Commander Brent Register was happy that the Police used a graduated response to alcohol affected persons. He was very pleased that there were only 4 arrests made out of the 10,000 revellers enjoying the iconic festival.  “It's a shame that a small minority spoil it for the majority who come to Martinborough to have a fantastic day out” he said.

Toast Martinborough has grown from small beginnings since its inception in 1992, and now contributes an estimated $2 million into the Wairarapa community each year.

Thousands of people donned sunhats and sunscreen today to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Toast Martinborough – New Zealand's premier wine, food and music festival.