Get ready for one of the major highlights of this year’s conference – the banquet! It’s a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones in a delightful setting.
We’re thrilled to announce that the banquet will take place at the Eastern Cuisine Restaurant in Richmond. To kick off the evening, we have a special treat for you: a wine tasting session featuring a selection of exquisite local wines, hosted by the renowned Nelson wine and food writer, Neil Hodgson.
But that’s just the beginning! The menu promises to tantalize your taste buds with a variety of appetizers, soup, and five mouthwatering main courses, with a selection of wonderful Nelson wines.
And what’s a banquet without some excitement? You’ll have the chance to participate in several raffles, with the opportunity to win iconic Nelson produce.
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable evening! Feel free to bring your partner or friends along to share in the fun. The cost for the banquet is $55:00 per person.
Winetasting Host
Neil Hodgson is a columnist with a particular specialty in wine and food, he has been writing a weekly column about wine for The Nelson Mail since 2000 and about food and drink in general since 2015. He owns and writes for the Top Tastes website a site that promotes everything good and great about food and drink, from wine tastings to recipes and the many outstanding producers in Nelson Tasman and indeed New Zealand.
For Neil it is the story behind the product that is important, it is the people who take a risk, follow their dreams, and create outstanding products and businesses he loves to find and to share their stories.
When it comes to his passion for great wines, he loves sharing his knowledge with visitors to the region and with young people just starting out in a food or beverage career.
As well as his love for wine he has been a contributor to the Nelson community for many years. Neil is a Past President of the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce and was heavily involved in the establishment of the Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency. He has a background in business management and governance.
