The world of wine
This week is a big one for local wineries as they host Roam Central 2025, an unforgettable weekend celebrating the best of Central Otago’s wine and food, set among Central’s stunning landscapes. There are a range of events to suit all levels of wine enthusiasts across the jam-packed programme, including opportunities to expand your palette and your knowledge.
This is the second time the event has been put on, but they’ve reimagined the concept, moving away from a more festival-like setup and shifting focus to the food and wine of our region. There are some amazing chefs getting involved this year too, such as Vaughan Mabee, executive chef at Amisfield, who will host a lunch on Sunday. Central Otago Winegrowers Association general manager, Carolyn Murray, is excited to bring an event of this calibre to the region.
“We wanted to make it accessible to all consumers, whatever stage of their wine journey they’re on,” Murray says. “You might not be that committed to do a whole weekend, or have the budget for that, but you can come along and learn – be a part of the wine community and the wine scene.”
The Grand Tasting is what Murray recommends for locals. While it is the smallest ticket, it is the linchpin of the event, which includes 31 producers, all showing three wines. There will be some tasty platters to complement the wines, and the opportunity to meet the winemakers and wine writers.
“You can just cruise around in this beautiful setting, soak up the atmosphere of being in a place that’s a real working winery, which you can’t normally get access to, and you get to mix and mingle with all the producers – have proper chats, learn, discover and taste.”
Whether you're a dedicated wine lover or simply looking to explore new flavours, the Grand Tasting is a great option. Enjoy being immersed in the local wine scene in a stunning, authentic setting, meeting the characters behind the brands, sipping and savouring your way to new levels of connection and appreciation. You’ll be joined by visitors from around the world, including international wine media, learning why Central Otago wine is celebrated and cherished.
“We’d love to invite locals to come along and be part of the magic. There’s nothing like tasting exceptional wines in the place they come from, with all the personalities involved and the stunning beauty of the region as your backdrop – it’s an unforgettable experience,” Murray says.
Roam Central will take place on 15 and 16 February, with a variety of events – the Grand Tasting is on Sunday, 16 at 2pm. Head to roamcentral.co.nz/ for more information and to get tickets.
