Northland heads South

13 February, 2006

ENTERPRISE NORTHLAND : MEDIA RELEASES 2006

Northland will offer a taste tempter to Aucklanders and announce its planned food and wine trail at the Devonport Wine and Food Festival this weekend (subs: 18-19 Feb).

Several large Northland producers will showcase their products, and competition brochures will be given away with purchases to encourage festival-goers to head north after autumn, when the trail begins.

Enterprise Northland is sponsoring a 12-metre long stall at Windsor Park in Devonport, which will have a sub-tropical theme, complete with beach and boat. Lemon-Z will offer samples of its new limoncello liqueur which is made in Kerikeri; three wineries - Okahu Estate, Marden Estate and the new Northland Wine Company - will sell glasses of their top wines; Fromage du Nord will showcase its soft French-style cheeses and representatives from Delta Kumara Produce will cook up their internationally famous rostis.

As part of the display a wooden dingy will be filled with Northland products and produce to showcase what comes out of the region, which is virtually everything, from chocolate to yoghurt.

Lyn Barnes , who heads Food & Wine Development for Enterprise Northland, says the region is perfectly positioned for Aucklanders who want to escape the city and enjoy some leisure and pleasure.

“Plus we can grow produce just about anything – and we do, extremely well, from kumara that sells in British supermarkets to saffron, sauce and seafood. And because of our warmer climate we can grow things here that don't grow anywhere else in the country. What's more, Northland can produce a range of wines, from award-winning Chardonnays to Pinotage. Now we have to build on that sub-tropical point of difference and encourage more visitors to the region so they can see for themselves just how special it is.”

Kwans Nurseries in Kerikeri have loaned citrus trees and other subtropicals for the display and Wharepuke Gardens is supplying more colour and intrigue with unusual plants including heliconias and banana palms. Pineapples and coffee bushes will also head south for the weekend.

Anyone who buys products from the Northland Naturally stall at the Festival will go in the draw for a night for two at Paihia Beach Resort, a massage at

La Spa Naturelle at the resort, plus a day's outing in a new limousine, courtesy of Northland Limousine Services.

This year ticket sales have been restricted to 12,000. For more details see http://www.devonportwinefestival.co.nz/