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Bumper weekend: Creative Arts and Craft Market stallholder Rex Charlesworth
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The Wakatipu’s Taste Queestown festival helped weekend stallholders do a roaring trade last weekend.
The daytime festival was held to coincide with the build-up to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals last Saturday and Sunday.
Queenstown’s Creative Arts and Craft Market – normally just held on Saturday – did a roaring trade all weekend according to stallholders.
Rex Charlesworth, who has sold handmade glass and silver jewellery at the market for five years, says the weekend-long set-up exceeded his expectations.
“Way better than I thought it was going to be – this has been a steady buying weekend. Normally, we’re in the quiet season.
“But with the Rugby World Cup, I think there’s a few more people about and we’re slowly crawling out of the recession.”
Charlesworth plans to return for this coming weekend’s second Taste Queenstown instalment which will build towards the RWC semi-final clashes.
Queenstown Resort College business hospitality manager and wine appreciation lecturer Paul Tudgay judged the Valli Gibbston Pinor Noir 2008 as the winner of the Pinot Noir competition last Saturday.
“Wine tasting is not much of a spectator sport but MC Henry Youngman managed to keep them laughing while I gurgled and spat,” Tudgay says.
Taste Queenstown event manager Jono Sutherland was delighted with the weekend, which featured rolling live entertainment from noon.
“We had a great turnout, the weather was absolutely beautiful and the festival created a real buzz downtown,” he says.
Taste Queenstown continues this coming weekend – see the programme in last week or this week’s
Mountain Scene. Or visit matchesmadeinheaven.
Pinot Noir comp winner: Valli Gibbston Pinot Noir 2008
Tudgay says: “Tightly wound, intensely flavoured with a palate that goes on and on.”
Second place: Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir 2010
Tudgay says: “Still very young but will develop brilliantly. Their best ever?”
Third place: Waitiri Creek 2007
Tudgay says: “Drinking well now, it’s a fruity wine but with some savoury elements emerging.”
Cheese Rolls comp winner: Patricia Luts (Austria)
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