31 March 2010

MARGARET RIVER WINE FESTIVAL – AN EXPERIENCES EXTRAORDINARY!

The Margaret River Wine Industry Association is pleased to announce that it has joined forces with Tourism WA’s Extraordinary Taxi Ride, the first campaign under the new brand “Experience Extraordinary”. This is an epic nine week journey exploring some of Western Australia’s most extraordinary locations and attractions - in a taxi, with Margaret River one of the first cabs off the rank!

“Margaret River and its annual Wine Festival has been chosen as a highlight the first unique leg of the regional sector, one of 11 within the journey, simply because the region epitomises three key themes for the tourist experience - fine wine, the abundant and beautiful natural attractions and our lifestyle”, said Leah Clearwater, Association President.

Ms Clearwater also said that, “What an experience the winning couple are in for; having Doug Slater, WA’s renowned cabbie from Bunbury, show the regions premier attractions on the taxi ride of their life. This can only enhance our regions’ fantastic tourism profile, which was also demonstrated by our winning the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel award.”

Filming will take place at the Margaret River Region Wine Festival on Saturday 10th April at Leeuwin Estate, this year’s wine festival destination.

Nick Power, Association CEO, said that, “Autumn is one of the best times to be captivated by Margaret River's natural beauty. The vine leaves are turning golden, the surf is pumping and the days are still warm with fresh nights. When you add the end of vintage celebration it is just about as good as it gets for a complete tourism experience. Having Tourism WA recognise that the annual Wine Festival is a cornerstone event within Margaret River is very positive for the region.”

Winenot discover one of Australia’s favourite wine regions - forage with your friends for local produce or just get caught up in the natural beauty and bounty of the region as you immerse your senses! To plan your escape and be served up a full programme of events visit www.margaretriverfestival.com and for more information about the Extraordinary Taxi Ride please visit www.extraordinarytaxiride.com.au.

15 March 2010

MARGARET RIVER WINE FESTIVAL – AN ABUNDANCE OF WINENOT EXPERIENCES!

The annual Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel Nine and WIN Television is an abundance of wine, food, music and art experiences. Where else can you experience barrel art, then an array from Pecorino to Petanque? Take in a slow and long lunch and then pick up the pace with some DJ tunes, learn the tricks of the trade from master winemakers and chefs, taste everything from world class wines to local whiting and cap off your evening with a must do wine tasting from the A-Z of the region?

Autumn is one of the best time's to be captivated by Margaret River's natural beauty. The vine leaves are turning golden, the surf is pumping and the days are still warm with fresh nights. The Festival then weaves a layer of stellar events into this natural rhythm of vintage life. The April 8-12 programme provides a ‘moorish’ insight into the bounty the region has to offer. A wine tasting could take the form of meandering alfresco between 50 wineries to try at the Vintage Festival under the majestic Karri stands at Leeuwin Estate Winery to a more intimate plethora of 26 wines offered by the glass representing the A-Z of regional producers at the swanky Must Wine Bar in town.

Knowledge is shared across the tasting bench at a Masterclass with homegrown winemaking superstar Vanya Cullen and Australia's leading wine educator Jeremy Oliver or across the table with acclaimed chef Tony Howell from Cape Lodge presenting a seasonal cooking class. Food will be slow and long at a Slow Food Long Table Lunch where your patience will be rewarded. Wineries will be transformed into outdoor cinemas at Cape Mentelle to art installations at Swings & Roundabouts. There will be cows paraded around unsuspecting paddocks to piazzas as part of Cow Parade Art Extravaganza. Live music will cover The Beatles at a swinging Cabernet Cabaret to legendary Australian musicians Jon Stevens and Daryl Braithwaite over a relaxed picnic on a blanket. The decadent range of local accommodation and day spas will be a welcome relief to this stellar line-up. Winenot rediscover one of Australia’s favourite wine regions - forage with your friends for local produce or just get caught up in the natural beauty and bounty of the region as you immerse your senses! To plan your escape and be served up a full programme of events visit www.margaretriver.com or phone 1300 765 518.

15 March 2010

LEARN TO TASTE WITH THE MASTERS

Join one of Australia's most influential wine critics along with a world renown winemaker for a behind the senses insight and tasting into what makes Margaret River's wine style so iconic. With sessions dedicated to iconic varieties of the region - Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blends, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon - you will learn some of the secrets that go into creating these wines along with some expert tips on how to evaluate them. Chief winemaker and Managing Director Vanya Cullen runs a bio-dynamic certified carbon neutral winery Cullen Wines with her family while Jeremy Oliver is one of Australia's leading wine educators, having run his own wine courses for fourteen years. Join them for a 45 minute session which will discover a line up of Margaret River classics along with some rising stars.

"Participants will be presented a blind line-up of 10 wines from their choice of one of Margaret River's acclaimed varieties, with time for education, discussion and questions," Vanya says. For the 25 years he has been writing professionally about wine, Jeremy has been a huge fan of Margaret River, a region he says has "always punched above its weight". As his series of books titled 'The Australian Wine Annual' show every year, wines from the Margaret River region occupy a significant proportion of what he rates as Australia's finest. Jeremy is looking forward to visiting Margaret River again, to sharing some thoughts and to discovering how the region is keeping ahead of the times. Bookings are essential, $55 per session and a separate entry fee to the Vintage Festival.

The annual Margaret River Wine Region Festival is an abundance of wine, food, and art experiences. For more information or to book please visit www.margaretriverfestival.com or phone 1300 765 518.

15 March 2010

MARGARET RIVER WINE FESTIVAL DRAWS ON INSPIRED ARTISTS

A call for artists is on to be a part of the Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel Nine and WIN TV's People's Choice Poster Art Competition. It is an opportunity to create a piece to be displayed as part of an art exhibition during the Vintage Festival at Leeuwin Estate on April 10 to be judged by the attending public with the winner becoming the promotional art piece for the following year's Festival in 2011. The winner of the 2009 People's Choice Poster Art Competition was Jenny Sanderson's ‘Water into Wine’. Jenny says,” It’s thrilling to win the competition and assist in marketing the Festival locally, nationally and internationally. What's important to me is that the award promotes and will be of benefit to the Margaret River Wine Region, which I love,". Entries are required to demonstrate the full colour of 'vine and wine' with any of the other Margaret River Wine Region essential elements - people, lifestyle, art, produce, natural environment or the Festival itself. The winning artwork will be featured in a marketing campaign in excess of $300,000 providing national and international exposure to the artist.

'Water into Wine' was inspired after a storm left droplets of water suspended from the grapes, vines and wires. To Jenny it is the epitome of the Margaret River Wine Region and refers to the long, wet winters of the past. No art medium restrictions apply other than the work must be original and be capable of being reproduced in single dimension so as to be easily replicated as a poster. All entries must be A3 size or equivalent and all rights to reproduce the artwork will, as a condition of entry, be handed to the Margaret River Wine Industry Association for use in marketing and promoting the Festival with full recognition to be given to the artist whose work is selected. Entries must be delivered to the MRWIA office by 5pm on Wednesday 7th April, 2010. The annual Margaret River Wine Region Festival is an abundance of wine, food, and art experiences. For more information or to book please visit www.margaretriverfestival.com or phone 1300 765 518.

17 February 2010

PACE YOURSELF for a SLOW & LONG MARGARET RIVER LUNCH!

Good things come to those who wait and the 2010 Margaret River Wine Region Festival’s inaugural Slow & Long Lunch will reward patience!

The Slow Food movement was founded to counteract fast food and our fast lifestyle by fostering community awareness to celebrate and champion food that is good, clean and fair. A strong local push saw the development of a Margaret River convivium that has international local foodie Ian Parmenter as an active and passionate member.

To create an authentic regional experience of the Slow Food manifesto the long lunch will feature a talented team of local chefs. California expat Rob Gough from Settlers Tavern has pulled together an amazing lineup including Tony Howell of Cape Lodge, Dany Angove of Leeuwin Estate, Aaron Carr of Vasse Felix and Franco and Lella Gimelli from Relish. Seasonal local produce will be the hero in a rustic lunch feast with generous shared platters of spit-roasted lamb and seafood cooked in open fires as part of the theatre of the afternoon.

Leah Clearwater, President of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association said today “We are really looking forward to this new event being part of our Wine Festival in 2010. It is well aligned with our aim for the event to showcase the fantastic wine and food we have on offer as well as the lifestyle we enjoy in the region”.

Commenting on the initiative Rob Gough of Settlers Tavern said, “We wanted to start an annual event that recognises our commitment to the region from an authentic Margaret River food and wine perspective. The long table lunch is a great way for people to meet and share in something quite unique each year”.

Perfectly matched with award winning wines from Margaret River and served alfresco in the stunning gardens at Leeuwin Estate. Sitting amongst the native Karri stands will be a chance to slow down and savour the unique sense of place the region has to offer on Thursday 8 April 2010.

Limited tickets are available from Ticketmaster for $150 (inclusive of food and wine) with shuttle bus options available. The annual Margaret River Wine Region Festival is an abundance of wine, food, and art experiences. For more information or to book please visit www.margaretriverfestival.com or phone 1300 765 518.

18 November 2009

2010 – 2012 MARGARET RIVER WINE FESTIVAL VENUES ANNOUNCED

The popular Vintage Festival and Vintage Concert, the two major events of the Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel Nine and WIN Television will be held from on the 10th and 11th April 2010 respectively at the Leeuwin Estate Amphitheatre, Leah Clearwater President of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association announced today.

“We are delighted the Festival will return to Leeuwin Estate in 2010. The event was well supported by both consumers and the wine industry alike and we felt it was such a great atmosphere in the amphitheatre. The Association is very grateful to Denis and Tricia Horgan who have welcomed the Festival back to Leeuwin Estate in 2010 and it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase our premium wines in world class venue that people are familiar with.”

“Looking ahead we have also reached in-principle agreement with Sandalford to host the 2011 and 2012 events which allows us to rotate venues in the whole Margaret River wine region that encompasses both the Shires of Augusta-Margaret River and Busselton and grow the Festival geographically and idealistically into the future.”

Nick Power, MRWIA CEO said “Margaret River wines have enjoyed a lot of success at recent national and international wine shows especially the 2007 vintage so there will be plenty to talk about and what’s important is that the Festival promotes and benefits the whole Margaret River wine region not just the wine industry but the whole community, local businesses, local government and public alike.”

Event Manager John Bradbury, TMG said, “The event programme was coming together well. We expect a good turnout of Perth, interstate and overseas visitors for the Festival next year to see a world class range of events”.

The Festival is a significant ‘stand alone’ event in its own right and this year the Association is hoping that even more regional producers – wineries, food producers and artisans beyond the record 70 achieved in 2009 participate in 2010.

10 June 2009

2010 MARGARET RIVER WINE FESTIVAL DATES

The Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel 9 / WIN TV, has confirmed dates as the 8th – 12th April 2010 advised Leah Clearwater, President of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association.

“The Festival is one of the regions premier events and in order for everyone to plan their calendar the 2010 date has been announced as early as possible. It is a great time to celebrate vintage and we have also avoided other major events in the region as well as being mindful of Easter and Anzac Day.”, she said.

“Again consumer, stakeholder and partnership sponsor response for the 2009 Festival was very positive as it was for 2008. We are gradually building a platform for the Festival to grow both geographically, from Augusta to Dunsborough, and idealistically throughout the whole Margaret River wine region appellation.”

Nick Power, MRWIA CEO said “The Association would really like to see everyone, especially key regional stakeholders, getting behind the Festival to demonstrate that it is truly a combined effort. What’s important is that the Festival promotes and will be of benefit to the whole Margaret River wine region with those benefits shared by all; not just the wine industry but the whole community, local businesses, local government and public alike.”

A key marketing initiative of the Festival was the Win-A-Cellar competition that is free to enter and comprises 40 cases of Margaret River’s fine wines and is valued at over $10,000; the winner for 2009 was Jane Koehne who lives in Perth. Jane found out about the Festival from the programme contained within the West Australian newspaper and entered just days before entries closed.

Entries for the 2010 Festival Win-A-Cellar are already open and once received allows people to join for as a Margaret River ‘Lover’ member (lover of Margaret River fine wine) of the Association for free and enjoy the monthly email newsletter on what’s happening in the region, vineyard and other announcements such as wine specials on offer.

27 May 2009

2010 POSTER ART WINNER

Visitors to the Vintage Festival on Saturday 18 April 2009 were once again given the opportunity to vote for a piece of art to be used in promotion of the Margaret River Wine Region Festival. Pieces by talented local artists were on display at Leeuwin Estate throughout the day and voting was very tight with only 13 votes separating first, second and third place. The winning piece is Water into Wine by Jenny Sanderson.

"Water into Wine" by Jenny Sanderson

9 April 2009

2009 MARGARET RIVER REGION WINE FESTIVAL – SHIRE OF BUSSELTON COMES INTO THE ‘BLEND’

At last nights Council meeting of the Shire Busselton voted 12 to nil to become a $10,000 partner/sponsor of the 5 day 2009 Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel Nine and WIN Television.

Leah Clearwater, MRWIA President said today “We are extremely pleased with this outcome and wish to publicly thank the Shire of Busselton for supporting the 2009 Wine Festival. Since the Association reassumed responsibility for the Festival a few years ago we have continually affirmed that the event is not something we ‘own’ but something we ‘host’ so that all regional stakeholders have an equal share in the many benefits that are accrued. The Festival will be enjoyed by those who live and work in the Margaret River wine region which extends through both the Augusta Margaret River and Busselton shires. In fact, many people don’t realize that over 50% of all wine producers are located within the Busselton Shire”.

In presenting to the Council meeting last night Nick Power, MRWIA CEO, “Re-confirmed that the Association would be taking a whole of appellation approach to the Margaret River Wine Region Festival as it had from the start; in 2009 this will see events taking place from Augusta in the south to the Yallingup sub-region in the north. This will continue in 2010 and we are already in negotiation with regard to developing proposals, such as a catch and release fishing competition and a major fashion event to capture the unique lifestyle and artistic elements within the Margaret River wine region”.

“The longer term objective of the Festival is to build it into an international event. Although this will take time the foundations are now in place with a strong platform on which all key regional stakeholders can participate into its development. This is another reason why we value highly the Shire of Busselton’s contribution. We will be working closely with all regional stakeholders, our corporate sponsors and supporters in the years ahead to continually develop the Festival and so capture the absolute power of the Margaret River regional wine brand” said Ms Clearwater.

7 April 2009

MARGARET RIVER WINE FESTIVAL HITS A RECORD

A record number of wineries will attend the combined wine, food and artisan gathering at the Vintage Festival on Saturday 18th April at the Leeuwin Estate Amphitheatre as a part of the 5 day Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel Nine and WIN Television.

Leah Clearwater, MRWIA President said today “We are thrilled with the result. The Festival has come a long way in a short period since coming under the umbrella of the Association. We aim firstly to consolidate what has been successful and progressively expand upon the event in the years ahead”.

The Festival provides an invaluable opportunity to promote the Margaret River wine region in a very positive way by capturing the beauty, uniqueness and premium range of goods and services we offer. In 2009 will see forty seven wineries, nine foodies, ten artisans and one brewery join forces to represent the region at this important showcase of talents which will provide an economic impact of $3m direct spending in the Margaret River wine region and over $500,000 in media promotion.

“Although these are certainly challenging times financially, it is encouraging to see the strong show of support from those participating in the wine festival. It sends a clear message that people are passionate about the future and longevity of the Margaret River wine region. The event is also another fantastic opportunity for locals and visitors alike to celebrate another great vintage for the region”, said Ms Clearwater.

In 2009 the Festival has grown to include a Sunday Vintage Vibe Concert bringing world class musicians James Morrison and Deni Hines to Margaret River which is paying dividends with strong pre-sales from people outside the region.

For more details on any of the wine festival events visit www.margaretriverfestival.com or contact the Festival office on 1300 765 518.

10 February 2009

MARGARET RIVER WINE REGION FESTIVAL PEOPLES CHOICE POSTER COMPETITION

The Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel Nine and WIN Television has announced today it will be running the 2nd Peoples Choice Poster Competition for local and WA artists during this year’s event 16-20 April.

The winning artwork will take centre stage of the Festival marketing campaign in 2010 worth in excess of $300,000 per year and provide some valuable exposure to the winning artist nationally and internationally.

Winner of the 2008 award Karin Luciano’s “Sonata in the Vineyards” was selected at the Vintage Festival and is now featured in the official poster released this week.

Nick Power, CEO of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association, said today, “The Peoples Choice Poster competition is an annual component of the Margaret River Wine Region Festival with the winner being selected one year in advance and thus providing an opportunity for the artist to be in the spotlight for that period. Additionally it will inform visitors and tourists alike what the ‘image’ is for the forthcoming year. Patrons at the 2009 Festival will be asked to judge the winner from a selection of posters chosen by the Association that will be shown at the Vintage Festival Art Display at Leeuwin Estate Winery on Saturday 18th April.

Design themes are very open with entries simply required to demonstrate the full colour of ‘vine and wine’ with any other of the Margaret River wine region’s essential elements being its People, Lifestyle, Art, Produce, the Natural Environment or the Festival itself. No art medium restrictions apply other than the work must be original and be capable of being reproduced in single dimension so as to be easily replicated as a poster. All entries must be at least A3 size and all rights to reproduce the artwork will, as a condition of entry, be handed to the Margaret River Wine Industry Association for use in marketing and promoting the Festival with full recognition to be given to the artist whose work is selected.

Entries must be delivered to the MRWIA office by 5pm on Wednesday 15th April, 2009.

28 January 2009

MARGARET RIVER WINE FESTIVAL – A SOUTH WEST ECONOMIC BOOST

The Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel Nine and WIN Television 16-20 April 2009 will provide more economic impact and media exposure for the region than ever before, with a dedicated marketing campaign covering media partnerships through television, radio and press, online ticketing and a recently completed airline alliance with Qantas.
Event Manager John Bradbury commented “The economic impact and media impact from the event is expected to reach a direct expenditure of $2.8m into the local economy from an anticipated 4,000 visitors from local, state and overseas markets.”
“The television audience is likely to top 300,000 viewers on Channel Nine and WIN networks and our newspaper partnership with The West Australian will play a valuable role in delivering the Official Program to households to keep the marketplace well informed about the exciting range of events we have as part of the Festival."
The marketing campaign also covers radio with stations 96FM and 6PR running a series of advertisements and competitions such as the “Win a Cellar Competition” since before Christmas to reach the targeted over 35’s demographic in Perth.
Having tickets available through Ticketmaster is another first, already generating positive pre-event ticket sales that will help accommodation and other service providers to reap the benefits of visitors planning ahead and allowing them to do so as well. Qantas will feature a dedicated events page on their website to showcase the festival, indicating that this is exactly the kind of program of events they feel will attract interstate visitors to experience what Margaret River has to offer.

“Overall we are very happy with our new event partners and the options to leverage additional promotional opportunities for the Festival which in turn helps to market our beautiful destination" said Nick Power, MRWIA CEO.
The festival will run over five days with highlights including an epicurean showcase at the Vintage Festival on 18 April and An Afternoon of Jazz Divas on the 19 April headlined by James Morrisson and Deni Hines, both at Leeuwin Estate Amphitheatre. Festival tickets have gone on sale and are available through Ticketmaster or for more information visit www.margaretriverfestival.com.

13 January 2009

MARGARET RIVER FESTIVAL GIVES AWAY A FREE ‘SEA’ OF WINE!

Need boost to kick start 2009? How about entering a competition through the Margaret River Wine Region Festival this year presented by Channel 9 and WIN Television giving away of a cellar of premium Margaret River wine worth over $10,000 to change your fortunes?

"The annual free online competition is a great way of attracting people to the Festival website www.margaretriverfestival.com and letting people know about this year's stellar line up of wineries, amazing entertainment and gourmet tastings, commented John Bradbury, Event Manager."

The free competition, giving away 40 cases of premium Margaret River wine, is run as part of the Festival by the Margaret River Wine Industry Association (MRWIA) and is expected to receive about 15,000 entries that will be added to those over 3,500 already received in 2008. Together it will help to build an extensive ongoing database of consumers and visitors interested in the Margaret River region; its wines and wineries , our many other natural attractions and attractive lifestyle that we can develop an ongoing relationship with on behalf of Association members through their monthly email newsletter.
CEO of the MRWIA Nick Power said “as far as we are aware we are the only wine region in Australia with this type of marketing initiative and it is a tremendous promotional platform for us to have. I also had the fun task of calling the winner of the Win-A-Cellar Competition from 2008, Harry Plunkett, a very fit seventy six years young (76) and dedicated wine lover, of Perth who literally fell off his chair when I told him the fantastic news.”

There is no fee to enter and entrants can only register once and must be over 18 years of age to go into the online draw. The Wine-A-Cellar Competition finishes at the close of business on 17th April and the lucky winner will be announced at the Vintage Festival on 18th April 2009. Festival tickets have gone on sale and are available through Ticketmaster or visit www.margaretriverfestival.com.

10 December 2008

JAMES MORRISON & DENI HINES HIT TOP NOTE AT THE 2009 MARGARET RIVER WINE REGION FESTIVAL

Margaret River's Wine Festival will be singing to a new tune with the announcement of its headline act for the Vintage Concert.

The 2009 Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel Nine and WIN Television will stage “A Tribute to the Diva’s of Jazz” with talents James Morrison and Deni Hines putting on a family concert at the Leeuwin Estate Amphitheatre on Sunday 19th April 2008.

World renowned jazz great James Morrison and smoldering soul/RNB singer Deni Hines together with their eight piece band will play a generous two hour show stacked with classic numbers from Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin and more.

John Bradbury, Event Manager enthused “The Margaret River wine industry wanted a world class performer and headline act to lift the Wine Festival to new heights and with James and Deni we have certainly started well. “James Morrison is one of the world's finest jazz musicians and along with Deni Hines is a superb attraction and fitting headline act for the Wine Festival.

This fabulous finale to the Festival Experience from 16th – 20th April 2009 will allows locals and visitors alike to kick back and wind down at the end of vintage in a stunning natural setting. All the family can participate with a special Bare Naked Theatre Group support act provided especially for the children so that they too can enjoy the Festival.
Tickets go on sale 17th December 2008 through Ticketmaster or visit www.margaretriverfestival.com.

19 November 2008

2009 MARGARET RIVER WINE REGION FESTIVAL DATES

The Margaret River Wine Region Festival presented by Channel 9 / WIN TV, has confirmed dates as the 16th – 20th April 2009 said Leah Clearwater, President of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association.

“The Festival is one of the regions premier events and we decided it needed a timeslot that was not only cohesive to the end of vintage but avoided other major events in the region. We are also mindful of Easter and the Anzac Day long weekend which sits either side of the new Festival dates in 2009”, she said.

“Consumer, stakeholder and sponsor response for the 2008 Festival was very positive especially for a first year event that aimed to consolidate things and build a platform for it to grow both geographically, from Augusta to Dunsborough, and idealistically throughout the whole Margaret River wine region appellation.”

“In recognising the need for growth and the human resource limitations the Association has as a not-for-profit organisation we have appointed an Event Manager who will work directly with CEO Nick Power in ‘staging’ the Festival in 2009 and 2010.”

John Bradbury, Managing Director of local event company TMG commented about the appointment. “I have always been a strong supporter of the wine industry and clearly recognise that the Festival has the realisable potential to put the Margaret River wine region on the national and international world stage. I welcomed the opportunity to work with the Association when approached to assist with the 2008 event by the CEO and see my new appointment as Event Manager to continue that ‘partner’ relationship and jointly take the Festival to new heights.”

Event Management appointments are not a new concept and the very successful Barossa Wine Festival in South Australia has had such an arrangement for many years.

Planning for 2009 and 2010 began even before the 2008 Festival was held and it will retain that whole of region focus. Current plans for 2009 already include a major street party in Margaret River, a “Cabernet Cabaret” with a fine wine auction at Saracen Estate, a centralised food and wine event and family concert at Leeuwin Estate along with a host of events at other wineries.

Both Leah and John said “The wine industry will continue to play the pivotal role in this Festival and in line with the pre-planning already undertaken will be added to with new elements of arts and food into the programme to make a diverse range of events and attractions.”

“We would really like to see everyone, especially key regional stakeholders, getting behind the Festival to demonstrate that it is truly a combined effort. What’s important is that the Festival promotes and will be of benefit to the whole Margaret River wine region and those benefits will be shared by all; not just the wine industry but the whole community, local businesses, local government and public alike.”

The first sundowner has been planned for Wednesday 3rd December 2008 from 5-7pm at Clairault Winery. All interested parties are invited to attend the first briefing session and networking opportunity. BYO a bottle of wine to share; please RSVP to events@margaretriverwine.org.au.

For further information contact Nick Power, CEO, Margaret River Wine Industry Association on 0400 516555 or ceo@margaretriverwine.org.au and John Bradbury, Managing Director, TMG Events on 0419 913473 or jb@oztmg.com

News Archive

19 March 2008

WIN A CELLAR PROMOTION - 2008 MARGARET RIVER WINE REGION FESTIVAL

The Margaret River Wine Region Festival will give away 40 cases of premium Margaret River wines worth about $10,000 as a key promotion tool for the event this year.

Peter Wood, President, of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association said today, “It’s a great promotion and way of attracting people interested in Margaret River and our fine wines. The competition aims to build an extensive database of people through the event website www.margaretriverfestival.com that will be used not only for future Festivals but also as part of the Margaret River ‘Lover’s’ initiative commenced last year.”

Having the Festival will add greatly to the ‘Lovers’ platform and will help people in Australia and overseas become familiar with the fine wines of Margaret River.

“Our event partners at 96fm and 6pr will be promoting the competition over a 4 week period in the lead up to the event especially so over Easter in our initial target market Perth so when people are relaxing over the break they can learn what the 2008 Festival offers them, their family and friends”, he said.

Mr Wood said, “One lucky winner will be very, very happy. It’s a wonderful prize and its not every day you get to win a cellar of wines at the one time; usually we build these ourselves and have to resist the temptation to partake; again usually unsuccessfully”.

Margaret River ‘Lovers’ will be kept regularly informed about what is happening in the region and various specials that may be on offer from wineries, accommodation providers and others via the once per month ‘Love Note’ online website campaign.

“Communication is an essential element in marketing and it is through initiatives such as Lovers and the Festival that the Association will continue to promote all of the strengths we are lucky to have in the Margaret River Wine Region from our wine, unique natural environment and a relaxing lifestyle”, he said.

The win a cellar competition closes on Friday 2nd May at 5pm and the winner will be drawn at the Vintage Festival on Saturday 3rd May. Entrants can only register once, they must be over 18 and all they have to do is go online to be entered into the draw.

February 2008

NEW WINE FESTIVAL FOCUS

The 2008 Margaret River Wine Region Festival promises a new focus on education  and fun in the coming Festival program scheduled over 2-4 May 2008.

Under the new management of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association, President Peter Wood, said “the Association has its sights firmly set on big things for the Margaret River Wine Region Festival, with the goal over the next 3 years to host a festival attracting over 20,000 visitors to the region from within Australia and overseas”.

“We have been through a period of consolidation and now its time that we all pulled together to make this a headline event for the region.  It has traditionally been a great event and 2008 will be no exception” he said.

“We applaud the vision of the Augusta Margaret River Shire in their support of the Festival this year and we expect the other stakeholders to follow suit in 2009 following the success of this years event” he said. 

“There has been a great deal of planning gone into this event already, and we are confident of attracting over 5000 people to the event this year” he said.

February 2008

STOMP IS BACK

The headline community event for the Margaret River Wine Region Festival is back and bigger than ever, said CEO Nick Power from the Margaret River Wine Industry Association.

“The Vintage Stomp will be held at Pioneer Park in Cowaramup on Sunday May and all the favourite family fun activities will be back including the Grande Parade, the Waiters Race, the Celebrity Stomp-and-spit.” Artistic Director David George commented “for this year’s theme we are looking to the old world wine region of France.   Imagine the Can-can dancers and Brigitte Bardot look-alikes stomping grapes”.

“Also some new events are planned such as a frog-jumping competition for the kids and a Petanque (Boules) competition for the adults” he said.

“Anyone interested in registering a team for the Boules competition should register now.  Or perhaps you can sing a song or dance a little dance in our French theme” he said. Vintage Stomp is in its fourth year this year after moving from Voyager Estate.  The event is just $10 adults, $5 kids or $20 for families.  Tickets will go on sale in March. 

Contact the Artistic Directors at Noble Rot (9758-7616).  Any local group interested in offering any kind of performance is welcome.  It’s your festival.  Vive le Stomp!