Winepress - October 2021

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Festival Focus New home for Marlborough Wine & Food Festival SOPHIE PREECE

THE VENUE might have changed, but the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival’s greatest supporters will be there in force in February, Photo by Richard Briggs says the organiser of the 29th Girls on Tour expedition. There are 23 women booked on the 2022 “tour” to Marlborough, with their alter egos ready to go, Vineyard for allowing the festival to be held among its historic vines for the past 33 years, helping generate the says ‘Raqeul’ (sic), who has led the charge for nearly three legacy of the event, he says. “But we couldn’t think of a decades. more appropriate new site than the Renwick Domain, which Her crew are “a wee bit sad” that the iconic event is in the heart of Marlborough wine country.” will not be held at Brancott Vineyard in 2022, with the Pernod Ricard Winemakers operations director New February 12 event moving to Renwick Domain instead.

Zealand, Tony Robb, says the company has been “proud But it’s unlikely to slow down this bevy of festival besties, hosts” for the festival for three decades, bringing people reportedly from ‘Bluff’, on their annual festival weekend. together “to celebrate the excellent food and wine that “No kids, no grandkids, no work,” she says, describing how comes from the Marlborough region”. However, a significant the laughter begins from the start of the trip, and doesn’t amount of redevelopment is scheduled around the festival stop until they get off the bus at the end.

The annual expedition began in 1994, when Raqeul and site over the next few years, “which will make it unsuitable a friend were sitting on a beach in Kaiteriteri watching their for hosting events like the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival”, he says. “This event continues to grow in scale and kids swim, and decided they needed to “get away from it as an operational vineyard our priority has to be to care for all”. Later that day a trip to the Motueka information centre our land so we can continue to produce high quality wines.” saw them book their train and tickets to the Marlborough Marlborough District Councillor for the Wairau/ Wine & Food Festival, and Raqeul hasn’t looked back since, Awatere Ward, Cynthia Brooks, says she is thrilled that growing the group whenever she comes across someone she the “village” of Renwick will play host to the festival next thinks needs a pick-me-up. year.

“We identify as the heart of wine country, and this is Every year the busload of women, wearing pseudonymwhere the recent wine industry started in the 70s,” she says. printed t-shirts, step away from life and into the tour, for four days of good wine, food and company, with the festival “The people here will really embrace this festival.” Cynthia says the festival is one of the most important events in the as the centrepiece of activities. “Many of us only ever see Marlborough calendar. “It is a celebration of who we are and each other at Girls on Tour, and it’s as if we’ve never been what we have achieved as a wine region.” apart,” says Raqeul. “A lot of people don’t even know our As she organises their 2022 outing, Raqeul is already real names.” looking ahead to 2023, when the Girls on Tour will have Wine Marlborough general manager Marcus Pickens their 30th anniversary, likely to draw past attendees’ home says after cancelling the 2021 event due to Covid-19, from overseas. “It will be quite large. If borders are open, I organisers are determined to make the 2022 event one of think all of them will come together.” the best ever, while ensuring the “unique atmosphere” of the festival is retained. “Having attendees who have been to more than 20, or even 30 events, reminds us how important the festival is, and that it is key to recreate the magic at a new site.” Wine Marlborough is grateful to Brancott

10 / Winepress October 2021

Marlborough Wine & Food Festival: February 12, 2022 Locals only tickets on sale: October 18 to 24 All tickets on sale: October 28