Chefs go online to laud events' magic

WHO'S LYING? Tim Turvey (left), of Clearview Estate Winery, and Tony Bish, of Sacred Hill Winery, tell yarns at Wine Lies last night. The event was held at Deliciosa Tapas and Wine Bar in Havelock North. The audience had to decide which of them was telling the truth. PHOTO/ PAUL TAYLOR

After just four days, social media is buzzing with talk of F.A.W.C!

The 10-day programme includes 61 events held throughout the region to November 9, with celebrity chefs such as Chelsea Winter and Nici Wickes documenting their time in Hawke's Bay online.

"F.A.W.C! opening weekend! Absolute magic, from the twinkling lights of the launch party at Craggy Range to the master classes at MTG, to the locavores' lunch at Hawke's Bay Farmers Market ... we lunched, we laughed, we loved every minute of it," Wickes posted on Facebook yesterday.

Today the fun continues with three sold-out events.

Winemaker Masterclass-Bordeaux at Trinity Hill treats guests to a blind formal tasting of 10, 2003 Bordeaux wines including Chateau Pavie and Chateau Montrose.

Globe Theatrette in Ahuriri presents a sassy film about Soul Kitchen in Hamburg, served up with a German-style dessert platter courtesy of Milk and Honey.

Havelock North's Deliciosa Tapas & Wine prepares to talk wine with some of the biggest bluffers in the business.

Owner and general manager Sarah Watson said tickets to the exclusive event were snapped up early on, with a small number of tables available across two nights.

"It's a twist on Wine Options, it's an event that's been really popular with the wineries over the past 15 years or so, I used to run them at Trinity Hill," she said.

"It's a winery gig they all seem to jump for - it's a good team-building exercise."

The idea is that one expert tells the truth, the other lies through their teeth in an attempt to sway those tasting the wines.

Last night Tony Bish from Sacred Hill took on Clearview Winery's Tim Turvey while Rod McDonald goes head-to-head with Advintage owner John Macpherson (Mac) tonight.

Tomorrow people will celebrate Guy FAWCs with a sold out bonfire in the fire pit at Trinity Hill, and a seriously posh BBQ of local meats served up for dinner.

It's an experience Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas hopes will become an annual F.A.W.C! staple.

She encouraged people to show the same enthusiasm for Chefs in Homes with Trinity Hill at Cape Kidnappers, which may be forced to cancel if tickets don't sell today.

"It's a small event for about six people so people will need to be first in best dressed.

"I guarantee if people pick up a ticket they will have the time of their lives."

For more information, visit: fawc.co.nz