Taste the Riverina without leaving Canberra
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Riverina Alley comes to the Handmade Canberra Markets on 23 and 24 March, allowing market-goers to sample delicious food and wine, buy Riverina produce and chat to growers and producers from across the region.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Wait a minute – wrong story.
Twenty-two years ago, in the Riverina town of Griffith, two women in their mid-twenties were tasked with organising an awards dinner to “recognise the highlight the achievements of food and beverage producers and manufacturers in the Riverina…and give local people a taste of the wonderful diversity of food and wines the Riverina has to offer”.
They didn’t really know what they were doing, but they did such a good job that—a year or two later—they were given funding to expand the concept into a weekend celebrating the region’s food and wine. One of those women was me (the other, a pocket-sized powerhouse called Shiron Kirkman), and the weekend became known as Taste of The Riverina.
Since its inception, the Taste Riverina Festival (as its now known) has attracted more than 100,000 visitors to the region and added more than $4.5 million into the local economy. This past year, Taste Riverina evolved into a year-round calendar of events across the region, and next month it enters another exciting chapter when Riverina Alley comes to the Handmade Canberra Markets on 23 and 24 March.
If you’ve ever wondered why the Riverina is called the ‘food bowl of Australia’, this is the perfect opportunity to find out. Riverina Alley will allow market-goers to sample delicious food and wine, buy Riverina produce and chat to growers and producers from across the region.
Handmade Canberra Markets founder and owner, Julie Nichols is excited to welcome Taste Riverina. “We have been doing this for over 10 years and are really passionate about supporting Australian producers and designers,” she says.
“We love that Taste Riverina will give visitors the chance to interact with the producer, discovering the story behind the products and experiences.”
And there are so many stories. Soooo many. This is a region where the culture of food and wine is deep and abiding.
Morella Grove’s delightful extra virgin olive oil.
From Knights Meats and Deli (a veritable Wagga institution) and their huge range of Australian and international artisan cheese and speciality goods to Morella Grove’s olive oil and vinegars, authentic Italian goodies from Zecca Handmade Italian and gourmet heat-and-eat My Chef Cuisine, there’s a cornucopia of Riverina food to get a taste of.
And if you love wine, you’re in for a treat, with the Riverina Winemakers Association coming to town, as well as individual operators: Borambola Wines, Boutique Wines by CSU, Courabyra Wines and Yarrow Park.
Yarrow Park wines will be there with their beautiful Riverina range.
Spirits more your thing? Pretty Parrot Distilling will be showcasing their range of gin, vodka, and Australian native fruit and rich liqueurs; alongside vodka from Headlands Distilling Company.
Dessert’s also sorted, with Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory on hand to ply you with their sweet goodness; and you’ll be able to learn more about the Riverina from regional tourism and development bodies.
Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory are bringing their sweet treats to Canberra.
Plans to showcase the region at weekend markets has been in the works for some time. Craig Sinclair, Chair of the Taste Riverina committee said, “We have so many unique and innovative operators, that we wanted to make it easier for people to discover them. We also want to inspire people…to visit the region.”
Craig says the Handmade Markets have created a strong personal connection between the maker and the consumer. “Visitors to the Taste Riverina Alley will be able to have a chat with the winemaker of their favourite vintage for example, or learn about local produce from the Riverina chefs who use them every day.”
the essentials
What: Handmade Market Canberra
When: 10am to 4pm, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March
Where: EPIC
How much: Free, but gold coin donations to charity Menslink are encouraged on entry
Web: handmadecanberra.com.au
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