Five tasty foodie festivals coming up

Luke Burgess will cook at Garagistes in the heart of Hobart throughout the Savour Tasmania Festival. Source: Supplied

Noosa will celebrate its annual food and wine festival this month. Picture: Paul Broben Source: Supplied

A BURGEONING paddock-to-plate approach throughout Australia means it's boom time for our food and wine regions. Here are fives five food festivals.

1. Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend
May 18-19

South Australia's Clare Valley is renowned for its world-class riesling, but there's a lot more as the local producers celebrate this year's vintage with culinary treats at the annual Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend.

On the back of a big year of awards for the mighty Clare's wines, including the 2013 Australian Winery of the Year for Kilikanoon Wines, the end of autumn is a beautiful time to visit.

Some of this year's drawcards include Clare Valley Food, Wine and Tourism Heroes, where you can meet six of the region's wine and food greats; Mitchells Wines' Gourmet Winedown with Andre's Cucina and Polenta Bar on the Saturday; Kilikanoon Wines' Kick Up Your Heels Cocktails; and Greg Cooley Wines' Jeans, Jackets, Jewels.

Brother John May, SJ, Jesuit Winemaker Emeritus, will celebrate 50 years at Sevenhill Cellars.

Other events include the Clare Rotary Art Show, Taylor's Long Table Dinner, Paulett Wines' Sunset Museum Tasting and Bush De Vine Degustation, and Reillys Wines' 12th Horizontal Challenge Degustation Dinner. See clarevalleywinemakers.com.au

2. The Noosa International Food and Wine Festival
May 16-19

Golden sands and sunshine? Tick. Fresh local produce, globally renowned chefs and super wines? Tick. That's a winning combination to warm the hearts of Aussies as we move into the cooler months, and Noosa springs to life with its annual food and wine festival.

The four-day event attracts 200 of the world's finest culinary stars, winemakers, media and food personalities to the Sunshine Coast, including Singapore's Andre Chiang and David Kinch from the US.

The festival will showcase Australian and local produce, while some of the nation's most highly regarded chefs, such as Martin Benn and Ryan Squires, will display their culinary pizzazz.

New to the festival this year are dinners at some of Noosa's most beautiful locations, such as a six-course menu at Noosa's Main Beach.

3. Rutherglen Winery Walkabout Festival
June 8-9

Rutherglen is the place to be on the Queen's Birthday Weekend, when the small rural town in northeast Victoria dishes up the action-packed Winery Walkabout Festival, which attracts about 20,000 visitors.

For $25, wine lovers can get into the walkabout spirit at the wineries of Rutherglen and learn about the rich history of the area. Every one of these wineries has something special to offer, with a range of wines on offer.

The two-day festival has plenty of entertainment, too, with live bands, breakfasts and gourmet dinners.

The local farmers' market and the Rutherglen Rotary Country Fair are always winners, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in some of the festival's fun activities such as barrel racing.

See winemakers.com.au

4. Avon Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Festival
June 1-2

If exotic spices, jams and nuts aren't enough to get your mouth watering, then how about a bunch of wines, beer, chocolate and cheeses as well?

The Avon Valley, just an hour's drive east of Perth, turns on a feast with its Gourmet Food & Wine Festival. Check out about 80 stalls showcasing food and wine from Western Australia and overseas. There'll be cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs including Don Hancey, while WA's Iron Chef winner Herb Faust returns to the festival, partnering with Barton Jones Wines to create a five-course dinner.

There's also live entertainment and rides, and most of the activities are included in the $10 entry fee.

See avoneventsandmarketing.com

5. Savour Tasmania
May 29-June 2

Some of the world's big-name chefs will share their expertise with Tasmania's chefs and apprentices.

It's a fantastic opportunity for food and wine enthusiasts to celebrate Tasmania's produce, beers, wines and ciders in Hobart.

Savour Tasmania has an exciting line-up for the 2013 program.

Belgium's Kobe Desramaults teams up with local Luke Burgess to create some crackerjack dishes at Garagistes, in the centre of Hobart.

Desramaults will also be part of the Long Table Dinner on June 1. There are also classes and tastings at the Tasmanian Red Wine Weekend.

See discovertasmania.com

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