Now in its third year the Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival is fast becoming recognis-ed as a high quality, annual event showcasing sensational wines and food from throughout the Wairarapa region.

The 2009 Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival in association with Nissan NZ will celebrate the beginning of the grape harvest season between 11.00am and 6.00pm on Saturday March 21. It will be held at ‘The Cliffs’, the spectacular riverside setting on the banks of the Ruamahunga River in the popular wine growing area of Gladstone’s Dakins Road, in the heart of rural Wairarapa.

Its remoteness and vineyard setting is part of the site’s appeal, but being only 10 minutes from both Masterton and Carterton it is still close enough to public transport to make it very accessible to locals and visitors to the district alike. A regional shuttle service will run to and from the festival site at the beginning and end of the day, servicing the Tranz Metro train service out of Wellington and the wider Wairarapa region.

Exhibitors will operate from marquees set amongst the dozens of impressive 1000 year-old native trees which are a feature of the festival site. A total of 24 exhibitors, representing Wairarapa’s finest wineries, high profile restaurants and food producers will be showcasing their wares.

Organisers are looking forward to the 2009 festival having an even greater focus on the best of the Wairarapa than in the past. While the wineries will serve some of their finest products, restaurants will be presenting some of the great local food and produce that the Wairarapa has to offer, illustrating that the Harvest Festival truly does celebrate the finest in local wine and food.

“The unique, intimate setting at The Cliffs allows visitors the ability to have a relaxed day out in the magnificent Wairarapa countryside, while also giving them the opportunity to sample wines from not only the larger, better known wineries but also from some of the smaller boutique wineries in the region,” says Liz Pollock, the Festival’s event manager. “In keeping with the informality of the event, visitors will also have the opportunity to meet the wine makers, giving them an insight into the wide variety and styles of wine available in the region.”

While of obvious interest to food and wine ‘buffs’, the Festival will also provide those from outside the area with an excuse to have a day out in the Wairarapa region. Viewed in conjunction with other events running locally over the same weekend, it will offer the perfect opportunity for visitors to experience some of the wide variety of entertainment offered by the region.

Once again there will be an emphasis on entertainment throughout the day, featuring a variety of live music, art exhibitions and static displays ensuring that all tastes are catered for.

Tickets are on sale now from all Ticketek outlets, by phoning 0800 TICKETEK or online through www.ticketek.co.nz.