Winery adds long lunch to Deco festival

LUNCH TOAST: Art Deco Trust events manager Jonathan Smith and Pask Winery's Kate Radburnd raise a glass to what is set to be a fine, and long, harvest lunch. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

One of the new additions to the Tremains Art Deco Festival next month is poised to celebrate fine wine, fine food and a startling new look for the hosts.

"We will be using the event to also launch our new branding," Pask Winery sales and marketing manager Victoria Crowther said.

The event is the Pask Harvest Lunch which will be laid out along the Marine Parade gardens on Saturday, February 20 to host hundreds of deco-inspired diners and sippers.

Pask has effectively taken the reins of what was once the Great Long Lunch and will be giving it its own colourful and individual look, as well as a strong Art Deco flavour.

The winery has plenty of experience in being part of a lunch for large numbers as it was tied up with the previous events, which were not staged during the Art Deco festivals, for more than 10 years.

"This is absolutely a great event for us," Pask Winery chief winemaker Kate Radburnd said.

"Because the best way to present wines is with wonderful cuisine."

Pask will be working in with Orton Tailored Cuisine, although Ms Radburnd said just what the Deco diners were set to receive over three courses was being kept strictly hush-hush until the waiting staff appeared. She said the winery had been around for 30 years - going back to the time when the Art Deco movement first began to gain momentum.

"So it's a lovely fit for us - we think it's perfect."

Ms Radburnd said she was delighted to be the host for the event, which would feature a stream of entertainers during the afternoon, and said the timing was also perfect in terms of Pask unveiling its new branding with what would be a public release.

Ms Crowther said after 30 years it had become time to produce something a little contemporary, although keeping the classic feel.

"It has an elegant new colour palate and it reflects what we are all about."

Tremains Art Deco Festival events manager Jonathan Smith said he was excited to have the larger-than-usual lunch added to the great menu of Art Deco Festival events. "Twenty events have now sold out and 30 are close to selling out," Mr Smith said.

"And the new events we have added are selling well - it is all well on track."

The lunch will be staged between noon and 4pm and tickets are $125, which includes the three courses of fine cuisine, entertainment and a complimentary glass of Pask wine.

- Tickets: Art Deco Centre, or www.iticket.co.nz/go-to/art-deco-2016.