From Saturday, 3 October to Sunday, 4 October, one of the Yass Valley’s most anticipated events will return as the Murrumbateman Moving Feast celebrates 20 years of showcasing some of the people, produce and places that make the region special.
For newcomers unaware of how the Feast works, businesses around Murrumbateman will create their own unique menus and wine experiences for visitors to create their own “progressive feast” by travelling amongst the vineyards and other producers within and around the town.
Travellers can expect to enjoy specially created dishes, local wine pairings and special experiences along the way.
Murrumbateman, with its special location just 30 minutes away from the capital city and only 15 minutes out of Yass, has developed into a diverse food, wine and visitor destination that is worthy of more than just a road trip stop.
Makers of Murrumbateman President, Angela Smith, said the Feast’s 20-year anniversary served as an opportunity to celebrate both how far the region has come and the people behind it.
“Twenty years of the Moving Feast is a wonderful milestone for our community,” Angela said.
“What makes the weekend special is that visitors aren’t simply coming for a meal or a glass of wine. They are travelling through our region, meeting the producers and makers, discovering new places and experiencing Murrumbateman at their own pace.”
With a strong focus on community collaboration, Angela says the Feast gives local businesses a special opportunity to work together and gives visitors (and locals alike) a reason to explore more of Murrumbateman by staying longer and discovering businesses they might not have explored before.
Across the weekend, participating venues are expected to offer a diverse selection of savoury dishes and desserts paired with local wines, alongside wine tastings, artisan produce, handcrafted chocolate, farm experiences, live music and handmade goods.
Participating businesses include Barton Estate, Shaw Estate, Vineyard 1207, Blackwattle Alpaca Farm, McKellar Ridge Wines, The Vintner’s Daughter, Dionysus Winery and Woo Chocolates, Murrumbateman Chocolate Co, Win’s Creek Meadery, Gallagher Wines, Murrumbateman Winery and Yarrh Wines, with additional activities by participating makers: Four Winds Vineyard, Madam Twocan Artisan Cheese and Wood, Metal and Things.
Greg Gallagher OAM (Gallagher’s Wines) was one of the Moving Feast’s earliest participants and says he has watched the event evolve over two decades.
Mr Gallagher received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022 for service to the wine industry as part of the Queen’s Birthday honour roll.
He has worked within the wine industry for more than 50 years, and says the anniversary weekend celebrations for the Feast provide an ideal opportunity for visitors from Canberra and surrounding communities to “rediscover a destination on their doorstep”.
“Murrumbateman is incredibly fortunate to have such a concentration of talented winemakers, growers, producers and makers so close to Canberra,” Angela says.
“We’d love people to gather some friends, plan their own route and spend the weekend discovering the flavours, stories and hospitality of our region.
“Most importantly, come and meet the makers. They are what makes Murrumbateman such a special place.”
Mr Gallagher isn’t the only special featuring winemaker who has had a hand in crafting Murrumbateman’s legacy.
For Stephanie Helm from The Vintner’s Daughter, the Moving Feast also forms a large part of her family’s legacy. Stephanie’s father, Ken Helm AM, is a pioneer of the Canberra District wine industry as someone who helped establish Murrumbateman’s reputation as a wine destination.
“I grew up watching my father and other pioneering winemakers build this region from the ground up,” she says.
“It’s incredibly special to now be part of the Moving Feast through The Vintner’s Daughter, and to see a new generation of producers building on that legacy and shaping what Murrumbateman will become next.”
The Murrumbateman Moving Feast will occur from October 3 to 4, and dishes will be priced at $30 each, with desserts priced at $25.
A full menu and list of participating venues and event map is available on the Makers of Murrumbateman website at https://makersofmurrumbateman.org.au/moving-feast/
Elizabeth Kovacs
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