A foodie’s dream, the Canberra Wine District Fireside Festival is uniting several winemakers and chefs in the Yass Valley and wider Canberra region to showcase their delicious products.
The Fireside Festival returned last week from July 8 to 17 after a two-year hiatus. Across 10 days the festival features local wines, delicacies, and toasty winter experiences from Murrumbateman, Lake George, Wallaroo and Wamboin regions.
Organised by the Canberra Wine District, this winter event will feature plenty of Canberra’s best including some of the new 2022 white wines which are already on the shelf, some Spanish varieties grown from around the district and some bigger-body red wines.
About a dozen businesses are participating in the festival, including – Murrumbateman Winery, Capital Wines, Sapling Yard Wines, Lake George Winery, Yarrh Wines, Lerida Estate, Tallagandra Hill, Gundog Estate, and Pankhurst Wines. Of the non-alcoholic variety Murrumbateman Chocolate Co, Canberra e-Bike Tours, and Poachers Pantry are also attending various events.
There are Canberra Wine Region e-bike tours all winter long. In the Yass Valley Murrumbateman Chocolate Co offers a sweet side to the festival from Thursday to Monday 11am to 4pm. On July 16, Tex Perkins and Matt Walker will be performing, and on July 23, Shane Nicholson will be lending his dulcet tones to the Tallangandra Hill Winery in Gundaroo.
In Springrange, the Poachers Pantry Smokehouse restaurant’s truffle dinner series is returning on July 16 and 30. Head behind the scenes of Murrumbateman Winery in a guided tour and tasting experience led by owner and winemaker Bobbie Makin.
Sail away with Yarrh Wines in Murrumbateman on July 16 and 17 with a special edition truffle version of their popular Winemaker’s Sail to enjoy by the fire, as well as a tasting of four wines at their Cellar Door.
On July 17, Gundog Estate in Gundaroo has a Sunday Sounds session featuring a free musical performance in the afternoon accompanied by a tasting of new and museum wines with food available from Grazing’s seasonal menu.
Over at Lake George, Lerida Estate Wines is also hosting a truffle and wine tasting each day of the festival from 11am to 4pm.
Most events are ticketed, so head to the Canberra Wine District site for bookings and more information here.
Brianna O’Rourke
