Relais & Chateaux New Zealand Features Food & Wine Weekends

Published: March 16, 2009 / LuxuryTravelMagazine.com

Luxury Relais & Châteaux golf & spa lodges in New Zealand are hosting a season of world-class 'Winter Food & Wine' weekends -- including a wine dinner with celebrity TV chef Rick Stein.

The two award-winning retreats in Hawke's Bay are among the most prestigious in the Relais & Châteaux global collection of the world’s finest luxury and independent small properties and gourmet restaurants.

The special seasonal offer, available from 1 May to 31 October 2009, includes a day of unlimited golf or alternatively a 50 minute massage of your choice for every night's stay. Guests will also be hosted in a luxurious suite with the package including a cocktail hour, a gourmet dinner, full breakfast and use of all the facilities at either Cape Kidnappers or Kauri Cliffs. The special offer rate is exclusive to Australian residents at NZ$700* per person per night from Sunday to Thursday, and NZ$750* per person per night on Friday and Saturday.

Throughout the season, the properties will be hosting a foray of Gourmet activities to ‘wow’ guests. The line-up of events includes a wine dinner at Kauri Cliffs on May 30 with one of Australia's top chefs, Guillaume Brahimi, of the 3-star Guillaume at Bennelong, Sydney Opera House and Bistro Guillaume at Crown Casino Melbourne.

The dinner includes a tutored wine tasting of the Craggy Range’s newly released Prestige Collection with winemaker/viticulturist Steve Smith M.W. The wines will also be matched beautifully to each of the five courses prepared by Chef Brahimi.

A highlight of the exclusive gourmet weekends is a June 6 wine dinner at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers with ‘celebrity chef’ Rick Stein, famed for his globe-trotting cooking programmes focused on seafood. Guests will be treated to his 'fishy tales' over a dinner he is cooking from New Zealand’s freshest and best produce. Complementing the event is a tutored wine tasting with John Hancock, chief winemaker at acclaimed Trinity Hill Wines.

The weekend of September 11-13, Cape Kidnappers hosts renowned chef Neil Perry and leading wine maker Dr. Neil McCallum of Dry River Wines. The weekend starts off with a champagne welcome including a wine tasting and a la carte dinner. On Saturday 12 September, guests can choose from a Neil Perry cooking demonstration, lunch at the Lodge or a winery tour with Te Awa’s winemaker followed by lunch in the Barrel Room. Guests are then treated to a five course dinner by Neil Perry, with matching wines. To end a perfect weekend, guests will be joining a Seasonal Sunday Brunch with Neil Perry.

The last event of the season will take place on October 24 where Cape Kidnappers features Australia’s foremost wine authority James Halliday and his New Zealand counterpart Bob Campbell, M.W for the 'Great Shiraz Challenge! NZ vs. Australia'. The ultimate ‘taste-off’ pitches New Zealand ‘Syrah’ from Hawke’s Bay against wines from Australia’s Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula.

All gourmet events including luxury accommodation, degustation dinner with wines, tutored wine tastings plus a day of unlimited golf or 50 minute massage and full breakfast are priced at NZ$800* (double occupancy) a night. A two night minimum applies for the September 11-13 'Neil & Neil' weekend.

The sister lodges are ranked in the Robb Report Top 100 Ultimate Escapes and Andrew Harper Hideaway Report of the world's 'Top 20 International Resorts'. Travel & Leisure also includes them among the world's '100 Best Destinations & Discoveries'.

* NB. All rates are subject to 12.5% Goods and Services Tax.

For reservations
Cape Kidnappers
Phone +64 6 875 1900 or email reservations@capekidnappers.com

Kauri Cliffs
phone +64 9 407 0010 or email reservations@kauricliffs.com

More information: The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs

More information: The Farm at Cape Kidnappers

More information: Relais & Chateaux