Between 2000 and 3000 fans of the grape are expected to sample the fruits of the labours of 13 wineries from the Gibbston valley and taste the cuisine of 10 Wakatipu and Central Otago restaurants in the picturesque surroundings of Waitiri Creek Wines.
The festival will be held from 11am to 5pm.
Stalls will be run by Brennan Wines, Chard Farm, Coal Pit Winery, Gibbston Valley Wines, Hawkshead Vineyard, Mt Rosa Wines, Peregrine Wines, Remarkable Wines, Rockburn Wines, Valli Wines, Waitiri Creek Wines, Wild Hare Wines and Wakatipu Wines.
Gibbston Valley Cheese, Les Alpes, Mantra, Memories of Hong Kong, Patagonia Chocolates, Skyline, Vknow, Waitiri Creek Cafe and Jackson Cupid Coffee Cart supply the food and refreshments.
About 300 chairs and 100 tables will be laid out and patrons can bring picnic blankets. Free water, sunscreen and gazebos for shade will be provided and a St John Queenstown ambulance will attend.
Children's entertainer Craig Smith is set to perform from 11am until noon and music will be provided by Southland singer-songwriter Jessie Coutts and guitarist-songwriter Mathurin Molgat, plus youth bands supported by the Rockformation Charitable Trust.
More entertainment will come from barrel-rolling competitions, bouncy castles and face painting. Major sponsor Heli Tours will offer helicopter flights up and down the valley for $50.
Festival entry costs $15 per adult, with a sampling glass loaned on arrival.
Children will be admitted for a gold-coin donation.
Most of the proceeds will be given to this year's charity, the Arrowtown Rugby Club.
There will be space for 500 vehicles at the winery. Snag Bus Tours will be operating return transport departing from the Pig and Whistle Pub, Queenstown, and behind the Lakes District Museum, Arrowtown, for $20 per adult.
Festival committee members and winery managers Greg Hay, Greg Hunt, Jason Moss and Jeremy Railton organised the annual event, now in its seventh year. They were joined this year by new members Sean Brennan and Hollis Heidelberg.
Gibbston wineries take turns as host and tomorrow will be Waitiri Creek's second occasion.
"It's a fun, affordable family event and it's as casual as you want it to be," Mr Moss said yesterday.
"Everyone's been to those snobby wine events, but we want to keep it real and have a bit of fun."
