Marlborough Wine & Food Festival guests savour the flavours
Shirley and Martin Housley toast Valentine’s Day with Nautilus bubbly at the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival. Photo: Evan Tuchinsky.
If anyone encapsulated the 39th Marlborough Wine and Food Festival at Renwick Domain on Saturday, it would be Joanna Stuart and Janco Groot.
Joanna is a native Marlburian; Janco is a native Dutchman. Visiting from the Netherlands, they made the event a destination on their vacation. They arrived amid an early wave of attendees and found a shaded table by a row of winery and eatery booths.
Their smiles told the story of Janco’s introduction to the event Joanna enjoyed as a local.
Shirley and Martin Housley embodied the festival spirit as well. On the same side of the grounds, they clinked glasses of Nautilus sparkling wine – a favourite of theirs – in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
The Housleys “have been coming for years,” Martin said. “It’s a fun day,” Shirley added.
Eva Pemper also was in a love-day mood. Joined by Celeste Gebhardt – who she described as her “family, friend, and everything” – Eva grinned widely while setting up the Valentine themed display for her eponymous winery.
Eva participated in 2023 and 2024, but took a break in 2025 for the birth of her daughter, Lily.
“I’m excited to be back,” Eva said as attendees queued for entry across the fairgrounds. “I am so big on supporting local. Marlborough has been such an amazing support for me since I launched my brand. It’s amazing to see everyone.”
