It's a wrap! Bay's Winter F.A.W.C! winds down for another year

Foodies heading into Shed 1 in Ahuriri for Saturday's Toasted event as part of Winter F.A.W.C! which wrapped up yesterday. Photo / Warren Buckland

Another wonderful Winter F.A.W.C! wrapped up yesterday with hordes of happy foodies heading home.

This year's Winter Food and Wine Classic, which kicked off on June 1, ended with a truffle hunt and slow-cooked barbecue yesterday.

The culinary extravaganza featured more than 60 events over four weekends ranging from cooking demonstrations to dinners in luxury lodges and wine tastings.

Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said the festival was a great way of bringing a unique boost to the hospitality industry in what was usually a quiet period.

"It's been another amazing month of F.A.W.C!.

"Winter can be pretty difficult, it gets the locals out and brings plenty of visitors in.

"It provides a focus for Hawke's Bay in a quiet month."

Thousands of people from all over the country made their way to the region to experience some of the best food and wine in New Zealand.

"We've had great feedback," said Dundas.

"It's always wonderful, the different events that everybody runs and the imagination that people have which I love."

Most out-of-town visitors were regular attendees of F.A.W.C! and would come back year after year for their favourite events as well as trying something new.

"It just appeals to people, which I think is really important."

Different events drew different crowds with mainly locals at Toasted in Napier on Saturday, which had a crowd of more than 600, and other smaller events such as those at wineries appealing to visitors.

Numbers hadn't been confirmed yet but most events had sold out and would be the same as, if not more than, last year.

One standout for the year was the fact that Matariki was more of a focus in some events such as Te Kai o Neherā - The Food of Ancient Times at Waitangi Park.

Matariki had not featured much in the past but this year's focus was hoped to continue in the future, Dundas said.

Some highlights of this year's festival were Sin City 2 at Emporium Eatery & Bar during the opening weekend which had "amazing feedback from locals", Vine of Brothers at Haumoana House, Millar Road, on Saturday and, as always, The Truffle Trail with the Manse & Sacre Monte at the weekend was a "really special event", she said.

Now that Winter F.A.W.C! is over planning for the summer event will ramp up.

"The industry is already working on ideas."

There is also going to be a major new event coming to Summer F.A.W.C! with more details to come in the near future.