Tickets selling ahead of target

There are still tickets available to the Winter Feasting at Elephant Hill Estate

This year's Winter F.A.W.C! events are in hot demand and ticket sales well ahead of last year's series, organisers say.

After ticket sales opened last week, 12 of the 48 events in this year's series have sold out, meaning more than 1200 tickets of the 3000 available have been snapped up.

Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said she was thrilled with the response so far.

"In less than a week we've sold well over a third of the tickets - that's well ahead of last year's sales."

Popular events which had not yet sold out included Why Sherry is the new Gin at Westshore Beach Inn, Winter Feasting at Elephant Hill Estate Winery and the Medieval Winter Feast at the Old Church.

"This is the biggest Winter F.A.W.C! to date and the demand for tickets really shows that people are enjoying the series. People who are yet to book should get cracking to avoid disappointment," she said.

The first event to sell out was the Bollinger Brunch with local chef James Beck at Millar Rd, followed closely by Bee Prepared with visiting chef Martin Bosley, set in the home of Hawke's Bay-based artists Brian and Leanne Culy.

Trinity Hill Winery had also proven popular with its three events: The Grill on Gimblett with Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers; Trinity Hill goes Bollywood and Molto & Montepulciano.

Now in its third year, Winter F.A.W.C! will run from June 5-28. Events range in price from $40 to $250 and include food and wine quizzes, themed dinners, cooking classes and food-inspired movies.

*For tickets and full event info, go to: www.fawc.co.nz