Showcasing wineries

Natalie Wilson
Natalie Wilson
Central Otago Winegrowers Association (Cowa) is hosting a cellar door and wine tasting event for Central Otago wineries to showcase their product to the region's accommodation providers and tourism operators.

Organiser Natalie Wilson, of Cowa, said wine tourism was ''high on the agenda'' for the group.

''We see a great benefit to both sectors [wine and tourism] by having a strong relationship with other tourism industry groups,'' she said.

''Wine tourism is an important part of the Central Otago experience and by bringing together cellar doors, tourism operators and accommodation providers in one room, it is a great networking opportunity to better understand and promote other tourism offerings.''

She said they had run a similar event in Cromwell a few years ago, which had been very successful.

''However, this is the first time we've held the event in Alexandra.

''We are also working on a date for a Queenstown event as well.''

She said there had already been strong interest in the event.

''We are hoping to have between 10 and 15 cellar doors [representatives] present at each event.

''We are also hoping to have a wide variety of businesses from the tourism sector attend as well.''

It would give the cellar doors' representatives the opportunity to present their wine experiences for the season ''so that tourism and accommodation providers know what the wineries are offering, so they can better cater to their guests customers and needs''.

She said in addition to their wines, cellar doors' representatives would also be talking about where they were, who they were, and what else they offered, for example restaurant, gift shop, art gallery.

The first event will be held at the Lake Dunstan Yacht Club in Cromwell on November 19.

The second will be at Central Stories Gallery on November 20, both from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

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