Grapes on the vine in Kumeu. Photo / Carolyn Robertson

Grapes on the vine in Kumeu. Photo / Carolyn Robertson

The Kumeu Heritage Wine Festival begins its fortnightly run this weekend with a host of events planned at the area's wineries. Just 20 minutes - on a good day - from Auckland, Kumeu is a well established wine-growing area and its vintners are ready to share their knowledge at tastings, where the emphasis will be on fun.

First up is the Wine Options Evening at Soljans Estate this Saturday where a blind team-tasting will be held of six local wines and one mystery wine with a quiz about age and variety and some local trivia questions too. An Antiques Wine Road Show (just like the TV show - dust off your bottles and memorabilia for an expert assessment) is on the festival programme's final day and vineyards participating in a host of other events include Kumeu River Winery, Lincoln Wines, West Brook Winery, Matua Valley Wines, Kerr Farm Vineyard, and Coopers Creek Vineyard.

Local eateries will also be cooking up a storm and sessions will be held on topics including food and wine matching. The Kumeu Wine Country Heritage Case will also be available for purchase at all of the events and winery outlets throughout the Kumeu Wine Country.

To find out more about the festival go to the events section at kumeuwinecountry.co.nz

Inner westie
Westmere espresso bar Garnet Station is winning friends with its Chiasso coffee, organic and gluten-free cakes and fresh pain au chocolat each morning. Open nearly a month, the cafe in a character bungalow also serves Russian samovar tea and hot chocolate made with 72 per cent dark Ghana, pounded cardamom and fresh orange zest. And there's a selection of kitchen-ware and ceramics on sale. Garnet Station is open Wednesday to Friday from 7.30am to 3pm, Saturday from 8am to 4pm and Sunday 9am to 2pm.

Doubly good
The Langham's Partingtons was named restaurant of the year for a second time at the New Zealand Culinary Fare. This hands-on cook-off from a box of mystery ingredients involves 1000 competitors. It tests the skills of chefs and waiting staff outside their normal environments.

The Partingtons team was chef de cuisine Kirk McLean, chef de partie Ronesh Chandra and restaurant supervisor Mauricio Brunelli.

Off to London
Wellington bartender Lisandro Walfisch from PBRS Bar will represent New Zealand at next month's World Flair Championships in London.

He picked up the New Zealand title this month, showing smooth skills in mixing and mingling. Second place went to Duncan Crilley of Astrolab Bar, Tauranga and third place to Beany C of Auckland's Sixth Sense Bar.