This Saturday’s Te Anau Hop 'n' Vine festival is set to exceed expectations set by the 2021 event, says co-organiser Kevin Downie. 

The beer, wine, cider and food festival has run successfully in Invercargill for the last five years and held a popular inaugural event in Te Anau last summer.  

“It’s a totally different event this year,” says Downie. “The weather conditions are for a 24-degree sunny day, and we have prepared for that.” 

Hop 'n' Vine festival goers attend last year's event in Te Anau. Photo: Supplied

While the 2021 Te Anau event was largely held inside, this year organisers have arranged to carpet the Te Anau tennis courts for the day and have seating outdoors. 

“We’ve spent $30 000 on the carpet, but this is so we can future-proof the event. We’ve been told the carpet can be used for up to 10 years. The investment will bring more people and bring more events. The whole of Te Anau is buzzing, they’re excited.” 

This expansion of venue has allowed the event to grow too. The capacity of the event is up from 800 in 2021 to 1000 this year, and requires 120 workers on the day.  

“Tickets sales have been fantastic,” says Downie. “But people are infamous for buying their tickets late. We just don’t want a late influx as we need to know how much beer to buy!”  

Wesley McAllister, Director of Queenstown brewery Crimson Badger, is excited to be attending the Te Anau event for a second time. 

“Last year was a good turn out and an amazing day.”

“There were a lot of people we recognised from the Invercargill event who were following the festival. There were also lots of locals and people from Queenstown.” 

The festival will be the first the local brewery has attended since last summer, with several events cancelled due to covid-related restrictions. 

This year's Te Anau Hop 'n' Vine festival is set to exceed expectations. Photo: Supplied

“This year we are just very lucky to have the festival, there are so many places in the world that can’t have events like this with the new Covid variant.” 

“We’re very lucky and I think that will be represented in the crowd. It’s going to have a great vibe.” 

The festival will also host a wider variety of food than in 2021, with a focus on local cuisine. Lobster, venison, seafood and smoked meats will be some of the options available 

“There will be a massive variety of food,” says Downie. “We want to encourage people to eat little and often. It’s a tasting festival and we want you to be trying something new and different.”

The drinks selection will also be diverse, with a variety of cider, wines, and gin to supplement the beers on offer. 

“It’s not an old mans beer fest like you might imagine,” says Downie.

“Women actually make up 60% of attendees on the day, so we need to cater to their tastes too. It’s a real girls’ day out and they’re really the ones that create the atmosphere” 

The festival will also feature live music, including Dunedin band Seabeast, and Te Anau acts From The Top and Andres Saavedra. 

Downie also has an important reminder to all those attending: 

“Please bring hats and sunscreen. There will be gazebos and umbrellas, but it’s going to be hot, hot, hot” 

“It’s going to be a great day. A bit of sunshine, beer, bands and friends – it’s always a good time.” 

Hop ’n’ Vine Te Anau runs from 12pm to 7pm on Saturday (January 15), with entry through the Fiordland Community Centre.  

Tickets are $40, and are on sale now at https://www.hopnvine.co.nz/

Attendees are required to show a vaccine pass on entry.