New Zealand's warmest months: a time for foodies

New Zealand's summer and autumn months offer a myriad of festivals for culinary enthusiasts showcasing some of the country's best food and wine.

Food and wine festivals throughout New Zealand provide good opportunities to taste regional specialties.

The seventh Organic River Festival promotes sustainable living over a weekend of organic food and wine, entertainment, and workshops on topics such as alternative power sources. The event is held in Levin, just north of Wellington, on 27 and 28 January 2007.

Wellington hosts Pinot Noir 2007 from 29 January - 1 February. The event will see 500 of the world's most influential wine commentators and producers gather for four days of eating, drinking, talking and celebrating New Zealand's top red wine.

For a truly New Zealand experience, the Kawhia Kai Festival on 3 February 2007 offers traditional and modern Maori kai (food) such as shark liver sausages, mutton bird, paua (abalone) and hangi (food cooked in a hot earth oven).

The festival, held in Kawhia on the west coast of the North Island, will also feature kapa haka performances, ta moko (tattoo) demonstrations, music, art, carving and weaving.

Harvest Hawke's Bay is one of New Zealand's largest food and wine celebrations with 25 wineries opening their doors from 3-4 February 2007 to showcase their award winning wines. The 12-year-old festival also features live entertainment and art exhibitions.

Auckland's Waiheke Island Wine Festival will be a day of wine, gourmet food and New Zealand music. Wines will be presented by 18 of Waiheke Island's vineyards on 10 February 2007.
At the top of the South Island, the annual Wine Marlborough Festival will also be on held on 10 February. More than 200 wines from 40 wineries will be showcased, with the opportunity to meet some of New Zealand's leading wine makers during wine tutorials.

For something different, the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival on 10 March 2007 celebrates the West Coast's unique lifestyle, food and hospitality. Festival-goers can sample gourmet 'bush tucker' such as worms, seagull eggs, mako shark, emu meat, whitebait, ostrich meat, octopus, eel and mutton bird.

The Bluff Oyster and Southland Seafood Festival on 21 and 22 April 2007 showcases Southland seafood and wine with the star of the show being the Bluff oyster. The programme also includes oyster shucking and eating competitions, wearable arts competitions, and the Southern Seas Ball.

Top chefs and winemakers from New Zealand and around the world will host culinary classes at Savour New Zealand from 27-29 April 2007. The Christchurch event will also feature a Cuisine Symposium where guest commentators will discuss sustainable agriculture and New Zealand's potential to lead the world in this area.

Hilton Head Island Welcomes the 22nd Annual Winefest 2007

The East coast's most exquisite public tasting and auction features over 1,500 domestic and international wines, gourmet meals from the island's top chefs and exciting entertainment. Wine tasting and auctions will be held Saturday, March 10, 2007 leaving plenty of time for other great island activities from golf to sun bathing.

The largest outdoor public wine tasting will be take place in picturesque Shelter Cove Community Park and Marina, in Hilton Head. Wine tasting and auctions will be held from 1:00 - 4:00 pm Saturday, March 10, 2007 leaving plenty of time for other great island activities from golf to sun bathing.

The East coast's most exquisite public tasting and auction features over 1,500 domestic and international wines, gourmet meals from the island's top chefs and exciting entertainment. Tickets are $30 each and include admission, a souvenir wine glass, and all wine tasting events. Tickets can be purchased by calling 800-424-3387.