Meet the Masterclass hosts - The Wild Side

When booking your tickets, treat yourself or your whānau to one (or more!) of our 50-minute Masterclasses, running throughout the day.

With three sessions to choose from, each masterclass is interactive, fun, packed with insider knowledge designed to enhance your festival experience. All classes are held in air-conditioned rooms in the Pavilion Building, offering a cool, relaxed space to enjoy the festival.

The Wild Side
Native Yeasts Meet Fermented Feasts, 12:20 pm

This 50-minute masterclass celebrates wild fermentation with native yeast wines, naturally fermented foods, and bold flavour exploration. Led by Kelly Stuart (Cloudy Bay Vineyards) and Fran Nolan (BOOM! Sauce, Spice & BBQ), you’ll taste six wild-fermented wines paired with sourdough, kimchi, cultured butters, aged cheeses and kombucha glazes.

Kelly Stuart, Winemaker at Cloudy Bay Vineyards

Kelly Stuart is a winemaker at Cloudy Bay Vineyards. Her work focuses on fermentation management, with a particular interest in sparkling wine production. Kelly has a technical background in viticulture and oenology and brings a practical, science-based approach to the cellar.

Fran Nolan, Owner of BOOM! SAUCE SPICE & BBQ

Fran is originally from Ireland and has worked as a chef since 1998. He moved to New Zealand in 2002 and has worked in various restaurants in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. He’s lived in Blenheim (Boomtown) since 2009 with his wife and three children. In 2018 he started BOOM! SAUCE SPICE & BBQ chilli sauce and BBQ catering company. BOOM! SAUCE AND LUNCH BAR OPENED IN 2025