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Toast to generate needed boost

September 12, 2020 September 2020 No Comments

Toast Martinborough is set to kick start a summer season that looks promising for the South Wairarapa economy. With over 75% of tickets sold already in just 2 weeks, Toast 2020 looks set to break records. The flow-on economic impact benefits the entire region. 

Airbnb’s and rental cottages have been booked out solid, and all accommodation is stretched to the max for the weekend that is being marketed as “The Best Sunday Ever”. 

Alice Meyer, marketing manager for Toast, says that millions will be injected into the local economy into the hospitality and service sectors over the weekend, restaurants and café’s gearing up for a thriving couple of days.  

“The financial impact on the region is significant,” says South Wairarapa Mayor Alex Beijen. He has attended Toast regularly since 1993, and has worked on the event over the past 11 years.  “Toast was the defining event that had established the South Wairarapa as a premium wine area in New Zealand. The event had continued to evolve into a much more refined day of wine tasting, compared to the earlier years”. The Mayor was sure that Toast would continue to be a key aspect of the regions promotion in the future.

Toast 2020 participating vineyards are Palliser Estate, Ata Rangi, Martinborough Vineyard 

(Te Kairanga Wines), Tirohana Estate, Escarpment Vineyard, Dry River Wines, Margrain Vineyards and Vynfields Estate. Special guests, soon to be announced, will join an already stellar lineup of chefs for a fabulous day of culinary entertainment.

For two of the regions vineyards this is a special year with both Ata Rangi and Martinborough Vineyards celebrating 40 great years of producing some of New Zealand’s top wines.

Toast has been the flagship event for the region for 29 years, weathering the up’s and down’s, to remain a vital element in the promotion of South Wairarapa as one of the preeminent wine growing regions of the nation.

This year’s event hung in the balance when the Covid19 disaster unfolded across the world earlier in the year. But plans swung back into action stations when restrictions eased and large gatherings could return.  With the cancellation of the World of Wearable Art 2020 event in Wellington, Toast is one of the few large events in the region that are still on track for this year. 

“Travel restrictions, to the rest of the world, has meant a lot of people are planning local holidays this year” says Alice. “We are excited to give our ticket holders a real taste of warm Wairarapa hospitality as well as great entertainment, food and of course delicious wines”.     

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