THIS time around the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival plans to get to the core of the matter.
The March 7-9 festival will introduce seasonal harvest tours, dinners and appreciation sessions, giving visitors the chance to get close to farmers, their seasons and their diverse products.
“Visitor and locals will be able to sample fruit and vegetables straight from the paddock, learn how this produce is turned into award winning products, and sample the ways fresh seasonal produce is served up by the region’s top chefs with some delectable harvest dinners,” Harvest Festival Director Trevor Fitness said.
“The festival has long been a celebration of harvest season, but this year we really wanted to get back to the core essence of the festival and reconnect the event back to the produce and producers,” Mr Fitness said.
Granite Belt Wine & Tourism Director of Marketing Sarah Reeves said the tours, dinners and sessions have all been specially crafted to showcase the diversity of the product currently in season.
She said there would be opportunities to meet colourful producers and pioneering winemakers along the way and enjoy gourmet menus that showcase regional producers.
At the event, a special Seasonal Harvest marquee will run a mix of appreciation sessions including cheese and wine matching, cooking demonstrations and wine appreciation sessions.
Full and half day tours including harvest lunches and dinners can all be booked online through the Apple & Grape website at www.appleandgrape.org.
The first tour begins on Thursday 6 March and ends on Monday 10 March, with the main festival on from the 7-9 March.
