Let Festivities Begin

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday June 8, 2005

KERRY SKINNER

Food and wine lovers can indulge in the best of both at the 2005 Shoalhaven Coast Wine Festival this weekend. KERRY SKINNER reports.

CELEBRITY chef Luke Mangan, the man who did the cooking for the Royal wedding of Princess Mary and Prince Frederik, will launch the Shoalhaven Coast wine festival at Coolangatta Estate on Friday evening.

The owner of Sydney's Salt restaurant and food writer has agreed to do the honours for the Shoalhaven's second wine festival.

The opening will herald a long weekend of fabulous food from sausage sizzles to gourmet banquets, entertainment, vineyard tours, grape treading and the best wines the region has to offer.

Festival goers who purchase a commemorative glass at the first winery they visit will be entitled to free tastings at all other participating wineries.

Here's a taste of what festival goers can expect:

ROSELEA VINEYARD (Gerringong): Friday: Progressive three-course wine dinner with entertainment and dancing - 6.30pm: Jerry's Cafe{aac} for canape{aac}s and pre-dinner wines, 7.30pm: Anchor Inn Restaurant for main course and dessert. $55 per person. Bookings: 4234 0340.

SEVEN MILE VINEYARD (84 Coolangatta Road, Shoalhaven Heads): Lunch available Saturday and Sunday. Choose from lunch boxes of local seafood or gourmet pies. Croquet, boules and horseshoes all weekend. Farmers market.

COOLANGATTA ESTATE (Bolong Rd, Shoalhaven Heads): Morning and afternoon teas. Lunch from noon to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday: Festival Wine Banquet at 7pm, $60 per person. Sunday: Seafood and Semillon Dinner from 7pm, $65 per person. Accommodation available: 4448 7131.

BUNDEWALLAH ESTATE (204A Bundewallah Rd, Berry): Wine tasting all weekend. Outdoor lunch of schnitzel or sausage, salad and bread roll available. Adults $30, children $15.

YARRAWA ESTATE (43B Scotts Rd, Kangaroo Valley): Cellar door tastings. Farm tour featuring diverse crops such as macadamia, pecan, citrus, cumquat and Japanese raisin trees. Gourmet hamburgers or antipasto with a glass of wine. Bookings on 4465 1165.

THE SILOS ESTATE (B640 Princes Highway, Jaspers Brush): Cellar door open all weekend, morning and afternoon teas, sausage sizzle. Saturday: art show featuring works by local artists. Sunday: degustation lunch and dinner. Bookings on 4448 6160. Accommodation on 4448 6082.

CAMBEWARRA ESTATE (520 Illaroo Rd, Cambewarra): Cellar door, sausage sizzle all weekend. The Full Monty of Chambourcin (11am-12.30pm and 2pm-3.30pm daily). Bookings 4446 0170. Sunday: Award-winning Ulladulla oysters and verdelho.

MOPOKE RIDGE WINES (45B Mopoke Close, Longreach, via Nowra): Cellar door tasting with cheese and biscuits all weekend. Garden displays and works by renowned metalwork artist Brian Shearing. Phone: 4422 0049.

LYREBIRD RIDGE ORGANIC WINERY (270 Budgong Rd, Budgong): Cellar door tastings. Organic wines complemented by handmade organic cheeses. Accommodation: 4446 0648.

NOWRA HILL VINEYARD (BTU Road, Nowra Hill): Cellar door open all weekend. Grape-treading Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. Entertainment by Flora Hutchison. Phone 4447 8362.

FERN GULLY WINERY (63 Princes Hwy, Termeil): Cellar door tastings. Vineyard and winemaking tours Saturday and Sunday. Gourmet food platters. Bookings 4457 1124.