March 8, 2020 - under the oaks, glenmark domain

March is a time to celebrate for the wine region of North Canterbury. After a long summer growing, it all culminates in a massive push to harvest those precious grapes and in turn, produce some of the best wine in the country. Once this is all over, it’s time to let your hair down and party like it’s never going to happen again! Enter, the North Canterbury Wine and Food Festival. In 2020 it took place on Sunday 8th March with over 4000 punters there to feast, dance and drink in the afternoon summer sun. Under the oaks at the Glenmark Domain in Waipara, North Canterbury, lies a vast array of wine and food from the local region, complimented by tunes from laidback artists and chilled beats from the DJ stage. Doesn’t it sound great?

There was no shortage of amazing eats on display with worldly cuisines, tasty sweet treats and a whole heap more. It was a mix of local chefs, bakers and artisan delights, along with some fine dining dishes from the team at Inati.

Wine is the beverage of choice on offer and the 2020 festival had more than ever! North Canterbury is famous around the country for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling, but there was more than this try from the wineries that are making headway around the world. Not only did your tastebuds get a treat at this year’s festival but so did your mind. The Talk Tent gave stage to some wonderfully inciting chats about the methods of wine making, why this region is so important for the industry, and what the future looks like for North Canterbury wine.

The North Canterbury Wine and Food Festival is a day out for the whole family. Kids go free and there’s plenty on offer to keep them happy, from a petting zoo to a face painter, they’ll be entertained all day! The alcohol free folks get a cheaper ticket and a complimentary Karma Cola to encourage a safe trip home. It truly is the coolest little wine festival and one that will shine again in 2021.

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“

Absolutely loved the festival today. It was the first time we have attended and it was the perfect way to spend Sunday with our family. The variety of food and affordability was great.

P. Jones - 2020

Really lovely venue and set up. Loved wandering around in the trees and the general vibes of the festival!

L. Hawker - 2020