Celebrate Asparagus 2005

Guided Wine Tastings

Acclaimed wine educator, Jenny Pollack, hosted wine tastings throughout the morning - matching local wines with asparagus and other local specialities, such as Tarago River cheese and Monte Allegro beef. Pollack’s wine sessions were a great opportunity to learn about this burgeoning wine region and purchase some of the Cardinia Ranges treasured drops (see more details of wineries below).

Gus

The kids' festival favourite was Gus Asparagus who roved the festival giving out free Gus Asparagus Activity Books and encouraging kids to enter the Gus Colouring Competition. The kids were also lured on to take part in the competition by getting the chance to win a fabulous Smash Enterprises Prize Pack.

A Bountiful Region

Take a closer look and you will see this region is surprisingly bountiful in food and wine! And there's no better opportunity to 'taste the region' than to trot along to the regular Cardinia Ranges Farmers' Market which is held on the second Saturday of every month from 8.00 am to 12 noon.

Fruit & Vegetables

Fruit and vegie lovers will not be disappointed for here they will find apples, berries (including strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries), chestnuts, hazelnuts, limes, pears, peaches, plums, passionfruit, rhubarb, cabbages, leeks, lettuces, pumpkins, silver beet, snow peas, tomatoes and zucchinis - to name a few.

Specialty Cheeses

The region boasts specialty cheese makers including Jindi Cheese - acclaimed as one of Australia's leading producers of white mould cheeses including their three-time world champion Brie - and Tarago River Cheese which produces some of Australia's finest hand made blue mould, white mould, washed rind and goat's cheeses.

Meat, Fish, Eggs, Honey & Bakery

Monte Allegro Beef , squab and farmed barramundi are also produced here...and that's not all. Other goodies such as free-range eggs, honey and lavender products, gourmet breads and cookies and Summer Snow Apple Juice are also on offer in this region. It's no wonder local restaurants and cafes are cooking up some fine fare.

Watch Out For This Wine Region

Wine lovers will be in their element here as Australia's leading wine writers have testified. Limbic Wines' Sauvignon Blanc has been recognised as one of Australia's finest 'sauv blancs', which is great news this wine style is a classic match for asparagus!

While you are in the region you should make time to check out Cannibal Creek Vineyard, Carlei Green Vineyards, Chestnut Hill Vineyard, D'Angelo Estate Vineyard, Jinks Creek Winery, Limbic Wines, Paternoster Wines, Steler Estate Wines, Swallowfield Vineyard and Toomah Wines.

As you can see, there is a proliferation of wineries to choose from, so it's just as well the region is only a hop, skip and a jump away from Melbourne (less than an hour's drive using the M1 Freeway).

We Hope to See You at Celebrate Asparagus 2006!
Our 2006 Celebrate Asparagus Festival will be held at the Cardinia Ranges Farmers’ Market at Pakenham Racecourse on Saturday 14th October, 2006. Put this date in your diary now!

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Copyright© Australian Asparagus Council. Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure that the information on this website is correct and up to date, no representation is made or warranty given (either express or implied) as to the completeness, accuracy or currency of the information that it contains. Last updated August 2007