Savour a Great Wine Capital at Summer F.A.W.C!
In its 12th year – and the first since Hawke’s Bay was named a Great Wine Capital of the World – the summer edition of F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic is set to deliver a spectacular line-up of culinary events in stunning Hawke’s Bay venues, from 15-24 March.
With so much to choose from, it can be a challenge knowing where to start. So we've highlighted six events where you can experience the very best of Hawke's Bay as a Great Wine Capital. For the full F.A.W.C! programme, head to www.fawc.co.nz - tickets are on sale now!
Church Road Harvest Experience
Saturday 16 March, Church Road Winery, 9.00am - 2.30pm, $220
Celebrate the art of winemaking by taking part in the most exciting time of year. Experience all things harvest and learn what really goes on behind the scenes when the fruit is ready to be made into wine.
Take a behind the scenes look with us, taste an active ferment, and then relax over a platter lunch with limited edition wines to accompany your meal.
Participation and activity is a must do for this tour so come ready to take part, with closed toed shoes and comfortable clothes. Ticket price includes a behind the scenes tour, wine tasting, platter lunch, and premium wine from the Winemaker's Cellar.
Great Wine Capitals: Adelaide Showcase
Saturday 16 March, St Martha's Cafe, 6.00pm - 9.00pm, $150
To celebrate Hawke's Bay's inclusion in the Great Wine Capital network, F.A.W.C! is showcasing a different member capital each year. First up, we are 'travelling' to Adelaide, South Australia. Callum Hann (Masterchef Australia, Lou's Place in Barossa Valley, Eleven Restaurant in Adelaide) will collaborate with the team at St Martha's Cafe to bring a taste of Adelaide to Hawke's Bay.
Using only the freshest local produce, Callum’s dinner will feature canapes and bubbles to begin, followed by a three-course sharing plate dinner. South Australian wines will accompany each course ensuring you get a true taste of this masterful Great Wine Capital of the World. Ticket price includes canapes and bubbles on arrival, three course sharing menu. One glass of wine per course.
Grand Long Lunch
Sunday 17 March, Secret location, 12.00pm - 5.00pm, $280
Sold out in 2022, the F.A.W.C! Grand Long Lunch is heading to a new secret location, with new award-winning chefs and spectacular wines waiting to be discovered. In 2024, the Grand Long Lunch features a five-course meal prepared by some of Australasia’s leading chefs – Hawke’s Bay’s own Casey McDonald (Craggy Range Winery), Plabita Florence (Forest Restaurant, Auckland), Cuisine Magazine’s Chef of the Year Zennon Wiljens (Paris Butter, Auckland), Greg Piner (Marbecks, Dunedin) and Callum Hann (Lou's Place, Barossa Valley and Eleven Restaurant, Adelaide).
Bus transfers are included in your ticket price, allowing guests to take in the in incredible panoramic views on the way to those those lucky enough to visit the secret, private event location. Ticket price includes canapes and bubbles on arrival, five course lunch with matching wine, and bus transfers.
The Great Vinous Odyssey
Sunday 17 March, Smith & Sheth Oenotheque, 2.00pm - 4.00pm, $90
Traverse the Great Wine Capitals of the world with an immersive masterclass hosted by Smith & Sheth wine concierge, Jason Lambert. In this two-hour masterclass we’ll showcase how Hawke’s Bay wine shines on the global stage alongside their counterparts from Napa Valley, Adelaide, and Rioja Alto.
Savour a leisurely afternoon, surrounded by kindred spirits who share your passion for fine wines. Sample our Smith & Sheth Chardonnay, Syrah and Cantera, alongside classic examples from our esteemed fellow Great Wine Capital regions. Complementing this tasting experience are artisanal sharing platters designed to enhance your tasting journey. Ticket price includes eight wine tasting pours (including international benchmarks and Smith & Sheth CRU and Grand CRU wines) plus sharing platters.
Experience Vintage with Trinity Hill
Thursday 21 March, Trinity Hill Winery, 4.30pm - 6.30pm, $66
Discover what vintage at Trinity Hill is all about! Join the Trinity Hill winemaking and viticulture team as you participate in three vintage activities and learn about the process of harvest and creating wine from grape to bottle. Have a try at foot-stomping wines, tasting ferments through and discovering the critical process of fermentation and finally sampling fully finished wines with the winemakers themselves.
After the activities are finished, guests can sit back and relax at our Cellar Door with a mini cheese platter and some final wine tastings to finish. A limited number of tickets available. Ticket price includes all activities, mini cheese platter and six tastings altogether.
The Evolution of Tony Bish Wines
Saturday 23 March, The Urban Winery, 3.00pm - 7.00pm, $110
An exclusive and indulgent wine-tasting experience, celebrating exceptional Chardonnay wines. This event will showcase a vertical tasting of Tony Bish's iconic Chardonnays, from Tony’s very first vintage to the current. Discover a full tasting of Bish wines, including Skin in the game, a limited release skin contact Chardonnay produced in 2018, while enjoying platters showcasing local cheeses and meats, house-made dips, breads and crackers.
The afternoon will wrap up with magnums of certain wines being opened and enjoyed by guests with a jazz band performing. Ticket price includes tasting of minimum six back vintage Tony Bish Wines, a glass of wine from Magnum bottles, locally sourced produce platter, jazz band entertainment.
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