Despite an interesting year, with early heat, a prolonged dry spell, hail and late rains, the quality of grapes across the Canberra District looks very good. The grapes are fermenting, winemakers aren’t sleeping much and the 2016 wines are starting their journey to the bottle and innevitably our glasses.

Over the past decade and more, the annual Harvest Festival has been held across the first weekend of April at local cellar doors as the industry celebrates the conclusion of another year. This 2016 however will see a significant expansion of that celebration as the local industry initiates its first Canberra District Wine Week (CDWW) Monday, April 4 through until Sunday April 10.

“To be honest, whilst the traditional Harvest Festival has been well supported it was becoming a little tired and given the ever increasing profile of the District's wines, we decided to initiate what we hope will quickly become a highly anticipated festival of local food and wine,” Wine Industry President John Leyshon explained. 

“So in concert with hotels, restaurants and bars across the District we have put together an exciting week of dinners, tastings and tailored food and wine experiences which will culminate in a much expanded Harvest Festival weekend of activities at local cellar doors.” 

The Canberra District stretches from Yass across to Gundaroo, Lake George and Bungendore as well as down the Barton Highway through Murrumbateman, Hall and into Canberra. 

The District is well known for its Shiraz and Riesling, however it is also producing outstanding wines across a broad range of varieties and styles which reflect the diversity of the District. 

“We talk about "Liquid Geography" and that's what it is - Variety and diversity,” he continued. 

“So our various hospitality partners in this initiative have enthusiastically taken it up and there will be opportunities for food and wine lovers to try “left field" wines from less well known varieties, Sparkling wines of different styles, compare different styles of the same variety and enjoy tailored dinners with matched wines. 

“The Harvest Festival weekend will provide an opportunity to visit cellar doors, see how wines are made and taste them during their ferment, walk the vineyard and enjoy food and wine matches."

According to John Leyshon: there's plenty to be proud of and plenty to enjoy.

"Over the past few years we've had fout winemakers make the final list for the Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year. Tim Kirk from Clonakilla who won the gong in 2013, Nick Spencer from Eden Road, Alex McKay from Collector Wines and Bryan Martin from Ravensworth/Clonakilla. Nick O'Leary from Nick O'Leary Wines won the NSW Wine of the Year back to back in 2014 and 2015 - that was a first, and Eden Road has won the Jimmy Watson. 

“With the huge range of national and international trophies and medals Canberra District wines have won, it's little wonder James Halliday has ranked some 15 local wineries. So it’s about time we provided a coordinated opportunity for local wine lovers to see first hand what the fuss is about — hence Canberra District Wine Week.”

There will be lots of events from Canberra right through to the Yass Valley including at "Clementine" restaurant, the Information Centre, “Ewe and Me" restaurant and down at Yazzbar. In Murrumbateman at "Flint in the Vines" and at “Four Winds Vineyard" and over at Gundaroo and at Hall at “Poachers Pantry" as well as in Canberra right across the week. 

“We were fortunate to obtain some modest funding support from Yass Valley Council to promote the CDWW and are hopeful that a successful event this year will lead to bigger and better things for 2017 and beyond,” he continued. 

“The Orange District, Hunter, Mudgee and various Victorian wine districts conduct successful festivals. It's about time Australia's premier boutique food and wine district put its hand up."

For a preview of the festival and upcoming events, see next Wednesday’s Tribune.