Inaugural food and wine festival hailed a success

The Old Cromwell Town precinct came alive yesterday as over 600 festival-goers turned out for some culinary delights and wine tasting at the inaugural Vino and Victuals.


The festival crowd enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in the sunshine, tasting quality food and Central Otago wine, soaking up the atmosphere and catching up with friends.


Elisabeth Williamson, festival director was delighted with the success of the festival,

“It is great we have so many wonderful flavours in the region to treat the palate and accompanied by the beats of the bands it’s been superb,” she said. “We have received good support from the local residents as well as holiday makers and we’re already planning for the next festival.”


Eleven Central Otago Wineries were present offering many varieties for tastings; festival attendees were delighted to try wines not usually available in the supermarket, particularly from the boutique wineries such as Domain Road, Packspur, Maori Point and Northburn Vineyards.


The wines were matched with a plethora of tasty nibbles from whitebait patties, smoked clams, to venison pies and barbecued rabbit legs, or for the more traditional wine accompaniment cheese platters were on offer.


Local musicians took centre stage as The Victoria Arms Crew jammed together with ad hoc musicians joining in throughout the afternoon and early evening. To close the festival a lone piper, Glenn Miller from Mount Michael Wineries, in traditional attire paced into the precinct and delighted the crowd with a solo finale.


The Central Otago Winegrowers Association together with Old Cromwell Inc staged the event. It was a fundraiser for Old Cromwell Inc.


The festival started at 3pm and ran through to 8pm. The dates for the next Food and Wine Festival are yet to be set, but event organisers are looking forward to make the event an annual affair.