One of Marlborough's most beloved annual events has been shelved, with organisers today confirming the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival has been placed on hold after nearly four decades.
The 2027 festival had been scheduled for February 13, but tickets were never released for sale.
Wine Marlborough general manager Marcus Pickens said the call followed "a number of difficult but necessary discussions".
"It was a hard decision, particularly given the festival's long history and the special place it holds for our industry and the many people who look forward to it each year," he said.
He pointed to mounting pressure on events around the country.
"Events are facing an incredibly challenging time across New Zealand and we have seen those challenges reflected in the festival in recent years," Pickens said.
"After careful consideration, it became clear that the substantial investment required to deliver the event in its current format is no longer the best fit with the organisation's wider responsibilities."
Launched by pioneering winegrowers in 1985, when the region had just four wine companies, the festival grew alongside Marlborough's rise to global fame for its sauvignon blanc. It ran for 36 years, 33 of them at Brancott Vineyard, before the Covid-19 pandemic forced cancellations in 2021 and 2022.
The event returned in 2023 at Renwick Domain after Brancott Vineyard was no longer available.
Wine Marlborough board chairperson Tracy Johnston said the legacy of the festival mattered but members' interests came first.
"The board has carefully considered the benefits of the festival alongside the significant investment and resources required to deliver it, and our wider responsibilities to the Marlborough wine industry," she said.
"This gives us an opportunity to focus our activity on delivering value to members, while exploring alternative ways for the festival's legacy to continue."
Pickens said Wine Marlborough would focus on initiatives such as Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027, a major international conference bringing industry, trade and media to the region in February.
"Some of the most influential people in the international wine world are coming to Marlborough because they are so excited about the wine we make."
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