FESTIVAL'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY DECLARED A SUCCESS

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

Organisers have declared the event a huge success. “We were blessed with blue skies and sunshine, ensuring that all 10,000 ticketholders had a fantastic day out,” says Rachael Fletcher, Toast Martinborough's General Manager.

Eleven vineyards hosted the event, offering festival-goers a once-a-year opportunity to taste the award-winning wines for which Martinborough is famous, savour superb food from top restaurants in Wellington and Wairarapa, and enjoy live music from some of New Zealand's most well known performers.

For Phil McGregor of Wellington, the day brought excitement and exhilaration. He discovered a ‘Golden Ticket' hidden in his festival francs, winning him a $1,000 package that included a helicopter flight over the festival and a personal ‘Toast butler' catering to his every whim on the day.

“In 20 years, Toast Martinborough has become a must-do outing for visitors from around New Zealand and all over the world,” says Fletcher. “The original 5,000 tickets have grown to 10,000 and tickets now sell in minutes rather than hours.

“This is a huge endorsement of the passion and commitment that go into every festival, which year after year delivers a unique world-class experience.”