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Ascension functions manager Carlie Blanchett-Burton says the charity wine tasting and auction will allow wine-lovers to try the best vintages from 20 wineries, from Auckland to the Far North.
Wine lovers will be able to sample the best that local wineries can offer at a charity wine tasting and auction at Ascension Wine Estate this month.
Warkworth Rotary Club is hosting the Raise A Glass event on Saturday May 9 to celebrate the region’s wine industry and fundraise for the Well Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Waitemata District Health Board.
Product from more than 20 wineries, representing Matakana, Auckland and the Far North, will be on show. Wine tasting will start at 3pm, with music by local Latin music trio Latakana.
A charity auction will get underway at 5.30pm with a range of excellent wine and non-wine items going under the hammer, including a trip to Queenstown with accommodation at The Rees Hotel on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
Heron’s Flight owner David Hoskins has helped organise the wine tasting and auction, and says it is the largest event ever to focus on Matakana wines.
“It will be the first opportunity for Matakana wineries to present their wines to hundreds of people who are there specifically for the wine,” David says. “The wineries will be offering some exceptional bottles. We will be auctioning our first ever wine – a Cabernet from 1991. We expect many of the bottles will sell for hundreds of dollars.”
Ascension functions manager Carlie Blanchett-Burton says it is the third time Ascension has hosted the Rotary wine auction, but the addition of the wine tasting afternoon will allow more people to join the festivities.
“Previous events have been a set dinner style, but we wanted to open it up to more people in the community and showcase local wineries.”
There will be wood-fired pizza and rotisserie meats for sale in the garden and a 10 per cent discount to ticket holders who pre-book lunch or dinner at Ascension Osteria before or after the event.
The Well Foundation started last year to fundraise for Waitemata DHB projects that aren’t covered by government funding. This year the foundation raised $125,000 for an Ultrasound Procedural Training Unit and is currently raising $70,000 for a portable echocardiogram scanner for assessing fragile and premature newborn babies with suspected heart problems.
The Waitemata is the country’s largest DHB, serving a population of more than 560,000 people, running North Shore and Waitakere hospitals and primary healthcare and other community services at over 30 sites in the region.
Tickets for Raise a Glass are $25 and are available from Ascension Wine Estate, online from ascensionwine.co.nz or at the event.
