Ten years of the Orkney Wine Festival . . .

The 2016 Orkney Wine Festival — the tenth event to date — kicks off in the county today, Saturday.

Organiser Duncan McLean said: “What started out as a small, informal happening in 2007, with just three events, has been supported so fantastically by local restaurants, and above all by the public, that it’s grown and grown.

“This year there will be ten events to mark the ten years of the festival, and I think it’s going to be the best one yet.’

The festival events are dedicated to the best of Orkney food and international wine and among the speakers this year Kevin Judd – the founding winemaker at Cloudy Bay, New Zealand’s iconic winery.

Duncan added: ‘After 25 years making some of the world’s most sought-after Sauvignon Blanc, Kevin left to set up his own winery, Greywacke, and it will certainly be one of the stars of this year’s festival.

“Kevin is also a very serious and accomplished photographer, and I know he’s looking forward to spending a lot of time around Orkney with his camera when he’s not pouring wine!”