Wānaka’s annual wine and food festival Ripe 2025 went off last weekend (March 22) without a hitch as a capacity crowd of around 4,000 ate, drank and rocked the day away under balmy conditions at Glendhu Station, above Glendhu Bay.

Performing at Ripe for the first time, Kiwi heavy funk band Black Comet described the warm, calm, overcast conditions as “perfect golf weather”, and encouraged the festival goers to sample the food, wine, beer and spirits on offer.

In a celebration of local vineyards, most of the 23 wine producers were from Wānaka and its environs (Gibbston, Bannockburn, Cromwell, etc) while the 16 food stalls offered a range of international tastes, including South American, Japanese and Hungarian.

Event planner Nathan White (Otago Event Planning) said judging by the feedback he received Ripe attendees were elated with the event.

Ladyhawke fans crowded the dance area in front of the bandstand.

One person said it was their first Ripe experience and it was the best organised event they’d attended. They planned to return with friends next year.

“Small tweaks will be made to make the customer experience better but the event has learnt from each year where to make adjustments and we are now at the stage it is almost exactly how we like it…,” Nathan said.

Nathan said there was no plan to increase the event’s capacity: “It is the perfect amount of people to create a positive atmosphere without being overcrowded.”

Many in the crowd made use of dance space in front of the bandstand, participating in the enthusiastic performances, particularly by New Zealand musicians Ladyhawke and Black Comet.

Ripe, which began at Corbridge Estate in 2021 and relocated to Glendhu in 2023, is known for its drive to achieve zero waste: Ripe 2024’s recycling regime diverted almost 89 percent of its waste from landfill.

“We beat last year’s rate [this time] for sure,” Nathan said, attributing this to the event increasing its purchase of tin plates to 4,000, as well as 500 pizza boards and metal cutlery which were returned to the Dish Wash stations located throughout the event.

Water tankers to replenish individual’s water bottles were available, compostable paper napkins were collected and food scraps went to Glendhu Station’s wormfarm. Even the new wine tasting tokens redeemable at the wine stalls were recycled.

Friends of Mount Aspiring College (MAC) monitored the dish wash stations and cleaned the utensils. “We can’t say enough about how helpful they are, we call them the Green team…they do an amazing job,” Nathan said.

“Hopefully we can create change at all events who will now be running out of excuses as to why they can’t go fully re-usable.”

Festival goers overwhelmingly supported the event’s goal of zero waste.

Tickets for buses from Queenstown, Cromwell and Wānaka to the event were sold out, he said, and additional buses were organised for festival goers just wanting to return to Wānaka.

Wānaka Power Sports also sponsored the event with an electric utility task vehicle (UTV) which was available for medical transport to the St John site, as well as assisting with set up and pack down.

WAI Wānaka was selected this year as the community recipient of funding from Ripe 2025 ticket sales.

Nathan said WAI Wānaka will receive $5,000, contributing to its education programme with most Upper Clutha schools and early education centres which teaches children to care for lakes and rivers via workshops, fieldtrips and citizen science initiatives.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App