Organisers of this year's PBT Gibbston Harvest Festival have added master classes to the menu for 2008.

Two classes on cuisine will alternate with 3 classes on wine tasting and appreciation.

Multi award winning regional chefs: Jason Dell and Mark Sycamore, Blanket Bay's Executive Chef and Sous Chef respectively will host cuisine master classes. Jason Dell, a former New Zealand Chef of the Year was also a senior member of the gold medal New Zealand Culinary Team. Mark Sycamore was 2006 New Zealand Chef of the Year and a world finalist in the Gordon Ramsay Scholarship.

The two award winning chefs will offer colourful, insightful presentations on what inspires them

Cuisine Demo A: ABC to Food and Wine Pairing
Jason's masterclass will be an informative but non-threatening presentation on wine and food pairing, discussing the dynamics behind pairing specific foods with specific wines. Participants can enjoy tastings which will include Chardonnay with smoked salmon and grilled venison with Pinot Noir.

Cuisine Demo B: Fresh and Fast Entertaining Inspiration
Mark's masterclass will provide quick tips and insight into tricks of the trade for easy entertaining. He will demonstrate simple yet stylish ideas enabling the participants to produce contemporary finger food for elegant yet manageable summer cocktail parties. Attendees will sample gourmet local produce served with Central Otago bubbles and aromatic whites.

Jason will also have copies of his cookbook available for sale and personalised autographs. Savvy is a collection of delicious, contemporary recipes that food enthusiasts will savour.

Brian Dennis, who was the Director of the Air New Zealand Wine Competition for 9 years and also a senior wine judge, will host the wine classes.

Brian and his wife Maureen are the proprietors of Mt Rosa Lodge - the luxury accommodation on the Mt Rosa Vineyard Estate. Brian currently works part-time at the Amisfield Wine Company cellar door at Lake Hayes. He is knowledgeable, entertaining (drinks a lot) and will provide plenty of looking, sniffing, tasting and drinking hints about our local wines.

The 30-minute classes will be held between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, March 15th at Mt. Rosa Wines on the Gibbston Back Road. Tickets are a gold coin donation. Enrollment is limited to 20 people per class, so get there early to ensure a seat.