Hawke’s Bay’s annual Harvest Hawke’s Bay Wine Festival will benefit from a format makeover next year.

The event will be centralised on one location, yet to be named, and the date will change from the traditional Waitangi Weekend timing to the last weekend in January - making next year’s festival on Saturday January 30.

Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc., the regional organisation that hosts the event, has conducted a comprehensive review of the event, surveyed participating wineries, and met with sponsors for feedback.

“Research shows the festival has reached a plateau in its current format and needs refreshing,” says Lyn Bevin, HBWG executive officer.

“Our strategic review of the festival indicates that centralisation is the best future direction for Harvest Hawke’s Bay as a long-term and key regional event.

“Wineries will still stage their own individual activities on the Sunday of the weekend so there will still be the huge variety of entertainment available,” Ms Bevin said.

The change of date has been prompted by the past clashes with the Wellington Rugby Sevens and potential future clashes with the Mission Concert. It also coincides with Auckland’s Anniversary weekend, and wine festival organisers will be promoting to both Wellington and Auckland audiences for 2010.

Harvest Hawke’s Bay organisers are currently working on venue considerations, costs, and a promotional strategy, and aim to present these details to Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers members and sponsors by the end of July.