French Theme Kicks Off Wine Fest

Illawarra Mercury

Friday June 8, 2007

By the Mercury's Business Editor GREG ELLIS

A WINE festival dinner hosted by Roselea Vineyard at Poets Corner restaurant in Gerringong last weekend was one of the first events staged for the 2007 Shoalhaven Coast Wine Festival.

Margaret and Jeff Lester hosted a French evening and wine dinner with a Moulin Rouge theme.

The event helps set the stage for the long weekend.

"It was a night to remember," Margaret said.

"With a French theme everyone was truly in the spirit and one would have thought they were in France."

Roselea Vineyard is among more than a dozen vineyards participating in this year's South Coast Winter Wine Wonderland festival.

A full list of activities is available at www.shoalhavencoast.com.au.

Roselea Vineyard is a small family vineyard near Gerringong.

It does not boast a cellar door, but its wine is available by phone order or at Cronin's Hotel and the bottle shop in Gerringong.

The Shoalhaven Coast wine region now boasts 21 wine grape growers, 15 cellar doors and seven producing wineries with a total production of 500 tonnes or approximately 400,000 bottles of wine per year. Margaret said there were presently four more vineyards under development in the region.

Participating vineyards

? Seven Mile Vineyard.

Regional produce, lawn games and kite flying.

Meet the winemakers, see a working winery and enjoy a gourmet taster's plate.

84 Coolangatta Rd, Shoalhaven Heads. Ph: 4448 5466

? Coolangatta Estate.

Festival lunch on Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3pm.

Saturday boasts Australian and Irish sounds from the Moonshiners Band.

Sunday performances by Sirenics. In the cellar door latest release wines and Unicorn cheese tasting.

1335 Bolong Rd, Shoalhaven Heads. Ph: 4448 7131

? Two Figs Winery.

Inspect the working winery, meet the winemaker, taste gourmet delights.

Cnr Bolong & Back Forest Rd, Shoalhaven Heads. Ph: 4448 5003

? The Silos Estate.

Wine tasting, cheese plates, local produce and music at the cellar door and new barrel room.

Gallery exhibitions include works from international wildlife photographer Gerry Pearce and Australian native animal artist Melinda Perrin.

Silos Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner - Ph: 4448 6160.

B640 Princes Hwy, Jaspers Brush. Ph: 4448 6082.

? Cambewarra Estate.

Master wine classes with Riedel glasses by winemaker Simon Cole.

Bookings essential. Your photo on a bottle of wine is free with a wine purchase. Gazza's sausage sizzle daily. Beef /mushroom pies, baked spuds and sour cream.

520 Illaroo Rd, Cambewarra Ph: 4446 0170.

? Lyrebird Ridge Organic Winery & Retreat.

Food, organic wine and song at the Lyrebird Winery, tasting organic wines by the pot belly stove. Sample and buy organic produce and listen to soloists in the cellar. Lunch includes camp oven stew and sourdough roll.

270 Budgong Rd, Budgong. Ph: 4446 0648.

? Yarrawa Estate.

Farm tours of vineyard and macadamia, pecan, walnut, Japanese raisin trees, kiwi fruit, tea and citrus orchard.

Homemade country-style soup with crusty bread or antipasto goodies.

43B Scotts Rd, Kangaroo Valley. Ph: 4465 1165.

? Nowra Hill Vineyard.

Try mulled winter wine and see traditional grape treading demonstrations at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

View the Shoalhaven Photographic Club's winter photo exhibition and enjoy Pick 'n' Mix antipasto picnic packs or scones, jam and cream.

222 BTU Rd, Nowra Hill. Ph: 4447 8362.

? Cupitts Winery.

Celebrate the Italian culture of Milton and Ulladulla.

Saturday is market day for local farmers and producers before a boules competition and Italian national day dinner.

Sunday features a long table lunch.

On Monday enjoy a fireside lunch and boules. Bookings essential.

Washburton Rd, Milton-Ulladulla. Ph: 4454 0131

? Fern Gully Winery.

Free one hour vineyard and winemaking tours by winemaker Max Staniford.

Taste six wines and enjoy delicious pumpkin soup with fresh crusty bread and a complimentary glass of wine for a modest fee.

63 Princes Hwy, Termeil. Ph: 4457 1124.

? Murramarang Vineyard, Bawley Vale Estate.

Gourmet food and wine. Live music on Sunday from 12.30 to 3pm.

226 Bawley Point Rd, Bawley Point. Ph: 4457 2555

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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