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The Marlborough Wine Festival 2009

The very best of New Zealand wine, food and music.

Pack up your picnic hamper, take your significant other by the hand and head next door... to New Zealand, that is. Our neighbours are hosting the annual Marlborough Wine Festival, with over 50 wineries and 20 food vendors.

Taking place at the beautiful and historic Brancott Estate, the festival will be held on February 14th 2009 (Valentines Day). Already the longest running and most successful wine festival in New Zealand, it has been listed as one of the Automobile Association's 101 Must Do Weekends.

The Marlborough Wine Festival showcases the very best of New Zealand wine, food and music. Set amongst the vines at the Montana Brancott Estate, it offers something for everyone - wine tutorials for budding wine aficionados, Fashion in the Vines contest - an excellent excuse for people to dress-up and of course the unique selection of world famous wine and delectable cuisine, topped off with music from some of New Zealand's finest performers. Artists confirmed for 2009 include The Black Seeds, The Phoenix Foundation & L.A. Mitchell.

Just a short flight or scenic ferry trip on the Interislander will take you from Wellington to Marlborough, a region of spectacular scenic beauty. The region is home to some of the finest New Zealand landscapes, from the stunning Marlborough Sounds to magnificent high country and the wild Kaikoura coastline. In the heart of all this, are the Wairau and Awatere valleys - home to world famous Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc plus many more varietals that make the region New Zealand's premier wine producer.

With hundreds of Marlborough wines available for tasting, combined with gourmet food and exciting features such as Fashion in the Vines and wine tutorials, the Wine Festival has become an iconic event, attracting thousands of visitors every year.

For those romantics who wish to make a full Valentines Day weekend of it, a Sunday Sounds Cruise has been arranged aboard the Marlborough Travel Launch Odyssea. Included in the ticket price is transport to Havelock Marina, a three hour cruise in the beautiful Kenepuru Sounds, two glasses of Marlborough wine and a two course luncheon, before being transported back to Blenheim.

Tickets are available from www.ticketdirect.co.nz or 0800 224 224 as well as Marlborough Civic Theatre in Blenheim.

For more information, visit www.wine-marlborough-festival.co.nz