The 2015 Shoalhaven Coast Winter Wine Festival launches on Thursday with members of the Shoalhaven Coast Wine Industry Association hosting a reception at Gabbys at Berry to celebrate the occasion.
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Association president Shayne Bricker, of Two Figs Winery, said there would be some new surprises at many of the region’s local wineries this year during an event that has become a major visitor drawcard.
The Winter Wine Festival is always held on the June long weekend and becomes more popular every year.
It now attracts thousands of visitors to the region with participating wineries hosting everything from degustation dinners to a la carte, freshly shucked oysters, home-made pies, sausage rolls and soups, cheese platters, wood-fire pizzas and barbecues.
This year the festival runs from June 6 to 8.
Mr Bricker said it had earned a reputation as being one of the most diverse and well organised festivals on the wine calendar and was strongly supported by Destination NSW.
He said all the wineries recognised the importance of the event and had gone out of their way to prepare something special for visitors.
At the region’s most awarded winery, Coolangatta Estate, visitors can wash down fresh oysters with a glass of the winery’s world-rated semillon.
And nearby, at the smaller Roselea Vineyard at Gerringong, local singer songwriter Penny Hartgerink is performing near a sparkling oyster bar, a range of chocolates and award winning sparkling wine.
At Yarrawa Estate in Kangaroo Valley a barbecue pack can be purchased for lunch.
The winery is also hosting a festival dinner at Moss Vale’s Bistro 146.
Oysters are again on the menu at The Silo’s Estate along with cheese from a local fromagerie.
Visitors can also learn the art of winemaking at a barrel room discussion or take in a helicopter ride.
The Hot Potato jazz band will be back by popular demand at Two Figs, where the pizza oven will be firing along with home-made sausage rolls and cheese platters.
And Cambewarra Estate will be showcasing its popular new frizzante-style wines. It will also feature beers from HopDog Brewery and Wagyu beef sliders.
Cupitt’s Winery near Ulladulla has a four-course winemaker’s lunch.
Bawley Vale Estate has organised rock’n’roll in the vines accompanied by a five-course wine appreciation extravaganza at Millards Cottage Restaurant.
All details at www.shoalhavencoastwine.com.au.
