Corker Festival Tipped

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday June 10, 2006

By GREG ELLIS

MORE than 4000 people from Wollongong, Canberra and Sydney are expected to converge on the Shoalhaven Coast wine region's third annual festival this weekend.

The 2006 Shoalhaven Coast Wine Festival kicked off with an official opening at Coolangatta Estate, and a dinner hosted by Roselea Vineyard at the Bellachara Boutique Hotel last weekend.

It will continue for the next three days at 10 vineyards and cellar doors between Gerringong and Termeil.

Shoalhaven Coast Wine Industry Association president Kate Khoury said the event was more than a wine festival; it was a celebration of wine, produce, art and culture.

Ten dollars from each dinner ticket last weekend was donated to the Kiama-based charity Fix the Faces - which pays for facial operations for babies in Vietnam. Donations are still welcome on 4234 1359 or 4234 0340.

Wine lovers will be encouraged this weekend to take a wine bus tour or drive through vineyards at their own pace.

Ms Khoury said 11 vineyards were participating this year, including the region's newest vineyard at Bawley Point.

Bus tours can be booked through Stuarts Coaches or Berry Wine Tours on 4421 0332 or 4464 1011.

Further information is at www.shoalhavencoast.com.au, 1300 662 808 or 1300 654 262.

Festival program

? Bawley Vale Estate Winery, 226 Bawley Point Rd, Bawley Point.

Cellar door open Sat to Mon, 10am to 5pm with local oysters, produce and BBQ.

? Cambewarra Estate, 520 Illaroo Rd, Cambewarra.

Cellar door open Sat to Mon, 10am to 5pm. Seafood, lamb or beef on a stick prepared by Amanda of Motza Cafe, Huskisson matched by award-winning wines.

? Coolangatta Estate, 1335 Bolong Rd, Shoalhaven Heads.

Cellar door open all weekend with special festival prices, 10am to 5pm.

Saturday: Noon to 1pm - Tutored tasting of trophy-winning Coolangatta Estate white wines including the 1998 Semillon (2005 Winestate Semillon Wine of the Year) and 1999 Sparkling Chardonnay. Lunch and dinner available Sat and Sun.

? Fern Gully Estate, 63 Princes Hwy, Termeil, 15 mins south of Ulladulla.

Cellar door open Sat to Mon, from 9am to 5.30pm. Free tours. Gourmet food platters with Ulladulla oysters.

? Lyrebird Ridge Organic, 270 Budgong Rd, Budgong.

Cellar Door open Sat to Mon, from 10am to 5pm. See organic vineyard and winemaking facilities. Self-contained accommodation available.

? Mopoke Ridge Wines, 45B Mopoke Close, Longreach, via Nowra.

Cellar door open from Sat to Mon, 11am to 4pm.

Try Maggie's famous Dukkah dip and check out locally produced jams and condiments.

? Nowra Hill Vineyard, 222 BTU Rd, Nowra Hill.

Cellar door open from Sat to Mon, from 10am to 4pm. Traditional, grape-treading demonstration will be held on Sat and Sun at 3pm. Picnic packs and platters available. Photographic exhibition and musical entertainment.

? Seven Mile Vineyard, 84 Coolangatta Rd, Shoalhaven Heads.

Cellar door open from Sat to Mon, 10am to 5pm. Lunch on Sat and Sun from 12noon with live music croquet, boules, horseshoes or quoits. Lunch boxes of local seafood or gourmet hot pies plus a farmers market.

? The Silos Estate, B640 Princes Hwy, Jaspers Brush.

Cellar door open daily 10am to 5pm, along with a sausage sizzle in support of Berry Primary School. Sat: includes art show Sun: Silos five course degustation lunch and dinner.

? Yarrawa Estate, 43B Scotts Rd, Kangaroo Valley.

Cellar open Sat to Mon from 10am to 5pm. Tours of grapevines, macadamia, pecan, walnut, citrus, cumquat, kiwi fruit and Japanese raisin trees. Gourmet hamburgers or antipasto goodies.