Wineries in the Gerringong and Shoalhaven Heads area are already attracting plenty of interest from Sydneysiders wanting to attend the Shoalhaven Coast Winter Wine Festival on the June long weekend.
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Wine producers are well advanced in plans to open their cellar doors from June 11 in a three-day extravaganza of wine tasting, local produce and entertainment.
Early interest is so high I am actually a little scared.
- Two Figs Winery owner Shane Bricker
Festival-goers pay $10 for a wine glass at the first winery they visit where they receive a festival glass that enables them to enjoy tastings at nine participating wineries from Gerringong in the north to Bawley Point in the south.
In 2016 more than 10,000 people visited vineyards in the region. Shane Bricker, of Two Figs Winery, estimated 3000 people visited his cellar door overlooking the Shoalhaven River and admits facilities were stretched to the limit last year. He said it was a good problem to have and he been building a new amenities block and has invited in many more food stall holders to cater for up to 4000 people he is expecting over three days this June. Two Figs is renowned for having a fun and happy atmosphere created with the help of popular jazz band Hot Potato.
“We are going to have more food vendors, more toilets because we got some negative feedback about the length of the queues last year. We are also putting on more staff. We are getting better quality toilets this year. We are building more and there is going to be 16 other stalls. I think last year we had eight. In total this year we will have 20,” he said.
Mr Bricker said it was a good problem to have so much interest from outside the region for an event that had become a real showcase of local wine. And that was good because a number of wineries were achieving a really high standard in terms of quality. As a result all the interest is helping grow the wine-making industry, visitation to the region and interest in local produce which will also be on show in all locations during the 2016 festival. “Already we are getting phone calls and people organising buses. Early interest is so high I am actually a little scared,” Mr Bricker said.
Participating wineries are Yarrawa Estate, Roselea Vineyard, Crooked River Wines, Silos Estate & Wileys Creek, Mountain Ridge Wines, Coolangatta Estate, Two Figs Winery, Cambewarra Estate and Bawley Vale Estate.
The growing interest from Sydney in particular comes on the back of an unusual harvest at Two Figs where all the grape varieties ripened around the same time.
“It was condensed and quite hectic over a very short period. It was all done in about six weeks. It was a good year and there are some good wines in there, he said.
The Verdelho, Cabernet and Shiraz are all particularly good. And our Southern Highlands grown Chardonnay is already tasting really good at this point in the wine making process,” Mr Bricker said.
Participating Wineries
Yarrawa Estate, 43B Scotts Road, Kangaroo Valley
- Enjoy wines in the spectacular beauty of Yarrawa Estate from 10.30am to 5.00pm. German sausages, mustards and sauerkraut on rolls with a glass of wine ($18). Sunday evening join us for dinner at Bistro 146, Moss Vale Rd. Kangaroo Valley. Five courses including wines ($125). Bookings Essential. Website: yarrawaestate.com Phone: 02 4465 1165
Roselea Vineyard, 310 Princes Hwy, Gerringong
- Live entertainment Saturday: Rhythm in Motion with John and Priscilla. Sunday: Penny Hartgerink performs. Enjoy Gourmet Wood Fired Pizzas, Barista Coffee and our Champagne Oyster Bar with award winning white, pink and red sparkle and famous Greenwell Point Oysters. On Monday relax and enjoy the serenity and our art exhibition. Website: roseleavineyard.com.au Phone: 02 4234 0340
Crooked River Wines, 11 Willowvale Road, Gerringong
- Three days of festivities with live entertainment daily in our natural amphitheatre overlooking the spectacular Saddleback Mountain ranges. Choose to dine in at Oak Room Eleven restaurant or bring a picnic blanket & enjoy casual outdoor food with a great drop of Crooked River Wine or your favourite Uncle Joe’s Craft Beer. Website: crookedriverwines.com Phone: 02 4234 0975
Silos Estate & Wileys Creek, B640 Princes Hwy, Berry
- Hourly talks in the ‘Barrel Room’ with the winemakers. Lots of food options, including fresh oysters; wood fired pizza; alpaca BBQs; outdoor paella; coffee and gourmet produce. A working Alpaca farm, cheese tasting and music make this ‘Winery of the Year’ four years running, a must visit. Restaurant bookings essential. Website: silosestate.com Phone: 02 4448 6082
Mountain Ridge Wines, 11 Coolangatta Rd, Shoalhaven Heads
- At Mountain Ridge Wines you can try all our wines, handcrafted beers, cider, port and liquors. Come and enjoy a glass of wine and something to eat, while listening to live music either up at the cellar door or at the restaurant (Child friendly). Website: mountainridgewines.com Phone: 02 4448 5825
Coolangatta Estate, 1335 Bolong Rd, Shoalhaven Heads
- BBQ in the Wine Garden plus Oyster Bar, Gourmet Pies and Sausage Rolls, Soup and Damper Saturday, Sunday, Monday from 10.30am. Alexanders Grill Saturday, Sunday 12 – 2.30pm. Live Music Saturday, Sunday and Monday Cellar Door 10am – 5pm every day. Try the range of entirely Estate grown wines from the Regions 5 star winery. Website: coolangattaestate.com.au Phone: 02 4448 7131
Two Figs Winery, Cnr Bolong Road & Back Forest Road, Shoalhaven Heads
- Tastings of award winning boutique wines, including the 2015 winner of “Best Wine made in the Shoalhaven” while overlooking Shoalhaven River. Roaming jazz band “Hot Potato”. Many food options will be available: wood fired pizza, homemade sausage rolls, local gourmet cheese plates, coffee etc. Website: twofigs.com.au. Phone: 02 4448 5003
Cambewarra Estate, 520 Illaroo Road, Bangalee
- Enjoy an all day gourmet BBQ, delicious wine tastings and sales, market stalls, plus $6 beers all weekend till 5pm from the cellar door. Plus, join author Yoshi Pitman for champagne tasting paired with gourmet canapes by Michelle Darlington and witness the noble art of Sabrage. Website: cambewarraestate.com.au. Phone: 02 4446 0170
Bawley Vale Estate, 226 Bawley Point Road, Bawley Point
- Bawley Vale Estate will be hosting live music on both the Saturday and Sunday of the Long Weekend. Visitors will also be tempted with complimentary BBQ snacks. Come and make a weekend of it at the region’s newest winery. Website: bawleyvale.estate. Phone: 02 4457 2555.