Volunteers from the Arrowtown Primary School Noel Kubala
(left) and Chris Ferguson.
A crowd of about 1800 enjoyed fine weather and wines at
the annual Gibbston Harvest Festival on Saturday where several
wine companies released their latest vintages.
Among them, Grant Taylor, of Valli Vineyards, was releasing
his 2007 Gibbston pinot noir, which he described as
"definitely a wine to age", with good balance and acidity.
Mr Taylor was one of several of the valley's winemakers
relaxing at the annual event which is held a week or two
before grape harvesting in the Gibbston area in early April.
Festival organiser Tim Morrison-Deaker, of Freefall Wines,
said the harvest festival was a great opportunity for those
in the industry to relax and take a break before the serious
work of harvest.
It was an excellent opportunity for valley producers to show
off their wines and attract townspeople out to enjoy the
country atmosphere.
In addition to the usual Gibbston valley wine on offer, this
year's stalls included Gibbston spirit producers and cider
from an orchard in Morven Ferry Rd.
This year's new site, next to the Winehouse and Kitchen, by
the Kawarau Bridge, proved successful, with plenty of good
response, Mr Morrison-Deaker said.
Already, next year's festival was planned to go ahead, on the
usual date of the third Saturday in March.
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