All You Need to Know About Ripe – The Wānaka Food and Wine Festival

Internationally renowned eight-piece band The Black Seeds will headline Ripe - The Wānaka Wine and Food festival which returns to Glendhu Bay on 23 March 2024.

In its third year, Ripe showcases Central Otago’s finest wine and food producers alongside world-class entertainment, in a spectacular location offering unrivalled views of Lake Wānaka and the surrounding mountains.

Event Director Nathan White said the 2024 event would be bigger and better than ever.

“We’ll feature premium wineries such as Amisfield, Gibbston Valley and Cloudy Bay alongside a range of boutique wineries and food vendors from across Central Otago including Artisan of Arrowtown and The Stoaker Room Wanaka. 

Ben Taylor and Phil Burke of Forsyth Barr Wānaka – the festival presenting partner – said Ripe had established itself as a major event attracting both a local and national audience.

“We are proud to be the presenting partner of this amazing event that showcases the premium wine and food of the Otago region in a setting of stunning natural beauty on Lake Wānaka.

“Ripe continues to grow and has become a major annual event for both locals and visitors to the area. The 2024 festival is shaping up to be the best yet.”

In addition to 25 wine and 15 food vendors, highlights of RIPE 2024 will include:

• A jam-packed music line-up: including The Black Seeds as headliners.
• Maude Wine Lounge: a VIP area offering a welcome drink and canapé with four walk-‘n-fork style canapés and private wine bar.
• Wine and Dine with Akarua: a VIP area with canapés on arrival followed by a three-course sit down meal with matching Akarua wines.
• Quartz Reef Wines Showcase: featuring masterclasses with three of New Zealand’s leading female sommeliers + more to be announced.
• Glendhu Social Club by Scapegrace Distilling CO: a cocktail bar serving cocktails made with Scapegrace’s handcrafted artisan products.
• Brews x Views by Rhyme x Reason: serving RxR’s popular range of locally brewed craft beer.
  
  

A major drawcard for visitors and locals is the opportunity to stay across the road from the festival at the iconic Glendhu Bay lakefront holiday park. Reserve your accommodation early as sites book up quickly.

Festival tickets are on sale now. Visit www.ripewanaka.nz to see all the ticket options and get yours before they go!

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