Summer classic ends on right note

Bottles of sparkling wine are sprayed over riders at the start of the Wineries Ride summer F.A.W.C! event at Sileni Estate on Saturday. Photo / Warren Buckland

A busy weekend in Hawke's Bay saw this year's summer F.A.W.C! draw to a close, with the festival "well ahead" of last year in revenue and visitor numbers.

Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said the 10-day food and wine festival was blessed with two balmy weekends in a row this year.

The sun shone on Saturday's Wineries Ride, which saw almost 400 people embark on bicycles from Sileni Estate, for a day of wine tasting at eight wineries throughout Bridge Pa and Gimblett Gravels, finishing at Trinity Hill.

Trinity Hill cellar door supervisor Cara Gittings described the event as "full on, seamless and really well organised".

Image 1 of 7: Dance off competition pictured during the FAWC!

"It was so sunny and glorious - everyone was in a really great mood."

Meanwhile, the Hawke's Bay Winegrowers Charity Fine Wine Auction, which joined the F.A.W.C! programme for the first time, raised more than $100,000 for Cranford Hospice, as it auctioned premium wines from the 2013 vintage.

Yesterday was the final day of the festival, with weather remaining fine for the Greek BBQ Under the Vines at Black Barn Bistro, where 80 people gathered for Mediterranean cuisine in the vineyard's picturesque scenery.

Although there had yet to be an official count yesterday, Ms Dundas confirmed the festival was "well ahead of last year" in its guest numbers and revenue.

"There's a lot of very, very happy visitors.

"F.A.W.C! is all about showcasing what Hawke's Bay does well and everyone has done an amazing job."

With people also flocking to the region for this year's Hospice Holly Trail and Hawke's Bay Racing's "Christmas at the Races" race day, it was a "busy weekend" for the Bay.

The international presence at the festival was also up on previous years.

"You certainly get the sense there are more people from out of town and they're staying longer. We've had a good international crew from America and Australia, so it shows the word is spreading."