3^rd May to 18^th May

Morris & James Harvest Sale at the home of Morris & James Pottery, Matakana.  Celebrating 30 years of hand making distinctive, vibrant ceramics – pots, wall art, platters and sculptural pieces.  Enjoy a FREE tour of the pottery workshop every weekday at 11.30am.  Sample the culinary delights of Cosi licensed café in the garden courtyard.  Live music with Evensong Sunday 18th May from 12.00 till 2pm

Throughout May

Brick Bay Wines & Sculpture Trail
View new pieces by sculptors Graham Bennett , Ian Boyle, Liz Earth, Fatu Feu’u, Christine Hellyar, Aiko Groot , Virginia King, Juliette Milne, Dane Mitchell, Pauline Rhodes, Caroline Robinson, Brydee Rood, Cat Simpson , Rachel Walters, Jim Wheeler.
While you walk the trail listen to our new Audio Tour. Experience our Kauri Climb, an extension of the trail into a magnificent stand of Kauri. In the Glass House, view interviews with artists at our Media Centre while enjoying a glass of Brick Bay Wine.
Arabella Lane (Off Mahurangi East Rd ) Snells Beach Warkworth    Ph: 09 425 4690 Email: sculpture@brickbay.co.nz  www.brickbaysculpture.co.nz www.brickbay.co.nz  

5^th to 31^st May

 Jeannette Switzer Jewellery & Art  "Dress - Black Tie" An exhibition of sterling silver and enamel jewellery in the theme of ties, dresses and high heel shoes. Studio - Whitmore Rd (off Takatu Rd) open 10am - 5 pm daily except Saturday mornings where exhibition can be viewed at Matakana Village - Matakana House Market 9am - 12.30 pm. Also view the complete exhibition on line from May 5 www.jsart.co.nz  ph 09 4227585 

An exhibition of Artistic Glass Jewllery at historic village of Puhoi,at the Puhoi Cottage Tea Rooms with the Puhoi String Quartet playing for you from 11.30 to 2.00 on Mothers Day Sunday on 11^th May.  Puhoi Cottage Tearooms, Puhoi 09 422 0604
www.puhoicottage.co.nz/entertainment-2008. 

Throughout May

Remember Mum this May at Damask Matakana.
Damask offers gorgeous rose inspired gifts & accessories to delight women of all ages.  From 2^nd to 11^th May they are focusing on one very special lady with a 20% Mothers Day Sale on most items including English China, Italian Stationery, French Fragrances, Designer Nightwear & Jewellery plus lots more.  Contact us on: damaskmatakana@xtra.co.nz

Leigh Sawmill Cafe Gigs for the month of May
11 May – Hollie Smith  www.myspace.com/holliesmithmusic
Friday, 16^th May – Olmecha Supreme & Cornerstone www.myspace.com/slmechasupreme
Sunday, 1^st June – Little Bushman www.myspace.com/littlebushmanband
Leigh Sawmill Café, 142 Pakiri Road, Leigh Phone 09 422 6019 info@sawmillcafe.co.nz

Saturday 10th May

Boutique Wines at a Boutique Lodge - Winemakers Dinner with Award Winning Hyperion Wines As part of the Matakana In May Festival, Kourawhero Country Lodge are hosting an exclusive dinner with John Crone, award winning winemaker from Hyperion Wines.  Kourawhero Chef Sam Anderson will create a superb six course menu showcasing the finest local produce, with each course matched to an outstanding Hyperion Wine.  Chef Sam and winemaker John will team up to guide you through each course, taste by taste. Winemakers Dinner $175.00pp including GST. Add to the indulgent experience by staying overnight in a luxurious Deluxe Suite at Kourawhero.  Take some time out to enjoy all the lodge has to offer including tennis, day spa, sauna and pool.  Accommodation Package includes a special welcome gift, full country breakfast and late checkout.  Dinner and accommodation package $575.00pp including GST www.kourawhero.co.nz  info@kourawhero.co.nz phone 09 422 3377 or 0800 KOURA1

“Old World” Winemaker’s Dinner @ Ascension Wine Estate Join Ascension Wine Estates’ Darryl & Bridget Soljan for an exclusive five-course meal in the new “Mahurangi” private dining room. Following a flute of Champagne on arrival, each course is matched with some of Darryl’s most treasured “Old World” wines from his own cellar. Limited to just 18 guests. $150pp including meal & wine. Menu available under “Events and entertainment” at www.ascensionvineyard.co.nz.To reserve your place, phone 09-422-9601.

The CASTLE MATAKANA – a Harvest Celebration Dinner with a unique selection of Vintage Matakana Wines back to1994 including Luxury Accommodation.
Celebrate a great 2008 harvest with us and savour Vintage Matakana wines with Fine Dining. This is a wine lover’s “seize the moment” experience with Val and Ras offering a superb 5 course dinner of their best-loved dishes to complement a unique selection of Matakana’s finest red wines from 1994 1998 2000 2002 2004 vintages. After dinner, relax by the log fire then retire to your super-king and en-suite Luxury Room waking next morning to exquisite sea views and gourmet breakfast. All set off with the style that is The CASTLE MATAKANA. To make a full weekend of it, just add Friday night accommodation at our special “Matakana in May” pricing from just $75pp and ease into Saturday at the Matakana Village Farmers Market for breakfast with a difference.
Dinner, Vintage Wines and Luxury Accommodation Packages from $325 pp incl Gst. Limited to 8 max for dinner.   May be booked as exclusive for a party of 6. Details will be confirmed at time of booking. Call on 09-4229288 email: mail@the-castle.co.nz or go to www.the-castle.co.nz
Matakana’s original Boutique Lodge with Estate Vineyard

Saturday, 17^th May 

Creating Drama in your Home & Garden  - Free demonstrations at the home of Morris & James Pottery, Tongue Farm Road,  Matakana
10.30am  The Natural Indoors – how to create drama inside using foliage staged in the Morris & James Native series with Maureen Roke
2.30pm    Hot Herb Pots – the do’s and don’ts of how to plant pots    and get the best out of them with Maureen Roke
Tel/ 09 422 7166   www.morrisandjames.co.nz

Saturday 17th May

“New World” Winemaker’s Dinner@ Ascension Wine Estate 6.30pm for 7pm. Join Ascension Wine Estates’ Darryl & Bridget Soljan for an exclusive five-course meal in the new Mahurangi private dining room. Following a flute of Methode Traditionnelle on arrival, each course is matched with some of Darryl’s most treasured “New World” wines from his own cellar. Limited to just 18 guests. $150pp including meal & wine. Menu available under “Events and entertainment” at www.ascensionvineyard.co.nz.To reserve your place, phone 09-422-9601.

Saturday 17^th May  2pm

RANSOM WINES HARVEST WINE-DOWN WITH LIVE JAZZ     Kate Martin & the Cats & Jammers   
Playing laid back jazz in the vineyard in the late afternoon.   
Singer and songwriter Kate Martin will be performing with veteran jazz band ‘Cats & Jammers’ in a special concert at Ransom Wines.  Kate, whose inspiration for singing jazz came from her love for Billie Holiday, has been ‘jammin’ with these ‘cats’ since she was 18. The five-piece band including double bass, saxophone, guitar, drums and vocals, have played extensively, but this is the first time they will perform to a Matakana audience, and it will be an occasion to remember.   Limited tickets: $15 pp  Delicious, warm autumn harvest platters available (bookings recommended). Cash bar.  Phone: 09 425 8862 Zmail: bookings@ransomwines.co.nz    www.ransomwines.co.nz 

Heron’s Flight has been making wine since 1991 – exclusive tasting of our early wines. Our early Cabernets and Chardonnays were highly sought after and helped establish Matakana as a premium wine region.  For celebration of Matakana in May, we are offering two quite different wine events:
First: held over the weekend of May 17/18, is an exclusive tasting of our early wines. This will be held in our private wine library.
Saturday , May 17, are the reds: we will be opening bottles of our early Cabernets (91,93,94,98) and Sangiovese(98,99,00)
Sunday, May 18, are the whites: we will be tasting our chardonnays from 1996-2003- as well as the Methode we made in 2000 from our chardonnay.
On each day, sessions will commence on the hour between 2pm-5pm (ie. 4 sessions each day). Each session will be informal but poured and discussed by the winemaker starting on the hour. Each session is limited to 20 people- and bookings for each session is strongly recommended.
The cost for each session is $35, and a very limited number of bottles of each wine will be for sale. A ‘not to be missed’ opportunity.
Contact us by email winemakerscentre@heronsflight.co.nz or call us on 09 422 7915.

Sunday 18^th May

Live music from Evensong at Morris & James courtyaard.  Relax and enjoy the ambience of the timeless beauty of Morris & James and sample the distinctive taste of Cosi restaurant at Morris & James.  Music from 12 till 2.30pm. 

Thursday 22 May (evening)

Recreating the magic of India at Café Sandspit, Sandspit  
Rich, spicy dishes with pickles, homemade chutneys, breads and poppadoms. Accompaniments of rice, vegetarian side dishes, raita, relish and tangy salad leaves washed down with kingfisher lager and spiced chai or mango lassi.  Mild or spicy dishes of Lamb, beef and Chicken will make for a fabulous evening overlooking the water. Booking Essential 09 425 9475

Saturday, 24^th May

Traditional Harvest Lunch at Hinchco Family Vineyard, Sharp Road, Matakana .  Celebrate with the winemaker the end of Vintage.  Enjoy great food, live music and jugs of wine will ensure a memorable day.  Call for more details.  $45 per person plus cash bar. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Ph: 09 422 7200   Andrea or Michael Hinchco 

Latin Celebration with VoxNova, Auckland’s premier Latin & Gipsy band Saturday May 24th, 7pm 
A celebration of Gipsy and Latin music and dance –
"...Gipsy Kings meet Buena Vista Social Club".
Latin themed buffet dinner & dance $65pp or $30 ticket only. Seated cabaret –style.
Ascension Wine Estate, 480 Matakana Road , Matakana
www.ascensionvineyard.co.nz Phone – 09-422-9601 Mobile – 0274-724428

Heron’s Flight – Fill your own bottles.  Saturday, May 24, between 10am-4pm. Bring your own clean 750ml wine bottles and fill them with our popular il rosso Sangiovese. Cost $12/ bottle, and a minimum of 6 bottles applies. We’ll supply the corks and a corking machine. This is a fun day. Bring your bottles and camera! Held on the verandah of the restaurant.
Contact us via email  winemakerscentre@heronsflight.co.nz or call us on 09 422 7915.

Friday 30th May

An Evening with Elvis @ Ascension Wine Estate. Brian Child – voted Australasia’s best Elvis impersonator! An AMAZING Las Vegas tribute to Elvis in The Belfry. One show only, Friday 30th. Dinner from 6.30pm, show starts 8.15pm. Seated at tables (with dance floor open!) Tickets including sumptuous buffet dinner $79 otherwise only $37