THE SUNDAY TIMES MARGARET
RIVER WINE FESTIVAL
by Graeme Olsen
Although the Margaret River region
has a multitude of attractions, it is perhaps best
known for it's wine and it's surf. More on surfing
another time, but for those of you who are perhaps
more interested in sampling the region's finest
wine and produce, here's your chance.
| The Sunday Times Margaret River
Wine Festival, which runs from 13 - 16 November,
is a showcase of the best of Margaret River's
wine, produce and art. It's an annual event
that attracts thousands of people, and is
a great chance to tour the south west, try
the local fare and be entertained, while enjoying
the festival atmosphere.
This year the event boasts the participation
of 75 wineries, breweries, artists, and
local producers, who will be providing a
range of
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| tastings, exhibitions, tours,
music, and other events. This is backed up
by an action packed festival that includes
the likes of street parties in Dunsborough
and Margaret River, 9 courses of wine, cuisine
and corporate golf, cooking demonstrations,
chef master classes, twighlight tastings,
wine-maker dinners, and the ANZ Margaret River
Fun Run which runs through the forest to the
surf. |
On top of that, you can enjoy jazz,
blues, and classic concerts, or food and wine matched
dining, celebrity chef cooking classes and tours
of art studios, the chocolate factory or regional
cheese farms and olive groves.
There's actually too many events to
list in full here, but you can get all the details
at the Festival web site (see below).
In fact, there's so much going on
during the festival, that a "fusion" event
has been organised, for those people who can't get
around to all the events individually. "The
Fusion", on 15 November, will bring together
55 wineries, plus breweries and other regional producers,
to provide a smorgasbord of wine and food tastings
in the one place. Held in the quaint south west
town of Cowaramup, two stages will be set up to
host a range of family entertainment, street theatre,
and live music. A great day out. And there will
also be free educational wine classes, so here's
your chance to start learning about fruity palettes
and soft tannins so you can impress your next round
of dinner guests.
Actually, that's one of the great
things about this particular wine festival. You
don't have to be a wine connoisseur to enjoy it.
Even if you don't know your cabernet sauvignon from
your merlot, you can still go along and be a part
of the festival knowing that you won't be looked
upon as some kind of ignorant commoner. And if you
want to learn more about wine (they say it tastes
better then), there's plenty of opportunity to do
so, and plenty of people eager to teach you.
So how do you get there? If you're
a local, there's a return shuttle service for "The
Fusion" that leaves from Busselton, Dunsborough,
and Margaret River. Bookings aren't necessary, and
the information can be found on the Festival web
site (see below).
And if you're out of town and want
accommodation or other information on travelling
to the south west, you should probably start with
the Margaret River Visitor Centre (welcome@margaretriver.com),
the Augusta Visitor Centre (augusta@margaretriver.com),
the Busselton Tourist Bureau (info@bsn.downsouth.com.au)
or the Dunsborough Tourist Bureau (info@dbro.downsouth.com.au).
Get out there and enjoy!
November 2003
