It has been announced that Mercedes Benz will support next year’s Hawke’s Bay Wine and Food Festival which is to take place at Roy’s Hill on 29 January 2011. The premium brand, which will open a new service centre and sales showroom in Napier in early 2011, is working closely with event organiser Carol-Ann Stubbs.

Carol-Ann Stubbs says: “Mercedes Benz are the perfect fit for our premium wine event which showcases the best wine and food Hawke’s Bay has to offer!” She also hinted at a possibility of special cars being displayed at the festival. “We are hoping to refresh the event with some great, funky ideas around the entertainment and making it much more of an inclusive family affair. It’s very exciting but all the details will be revealed at a later date.”

Apart from Mercedes Benz, TSB Bank have announced their support for the Hawke’s Bay Wine and Food Festival, alongside last year’s sponsor, the Hastings District Council. So far, the following wineries and local producers have signed up for the Hawke’s Bay Wine and Food Festival which is expected to attract thousands of visitors: Craggy Range, Clearview, Sacred Hill, Gunn Estate, Wild Rock, Vidal Estate, The Grail, Tukipo River Estate, Trinity Hill, Squawking Magpie, Moana Park, Mission, Matariki, Lime Rock, Hawke’s Ridge, Frizzell, Esk Valley, Askerne and CJ Pask.

The Hawke’s Bay Wine and Food Festival (formerly Harvest Hawke’s Bay Wine and Food Festival) will take place at Roy’s Hill in the Gimblett Gravels on State Highway 50 on Saturday 29 January. Festival Passes are NZ$45 (NZ$65 including bus transfer from major local towns).