The annual Fireside Festival kicks off this weekend (1 August) to warm the last of our winter weekends until end August. The Festival covers wineries, restaurants and events in Murrumbateman, Bungendore, Lake George, Gundaroo, and Hall. So warm your inside and outside with some of our region’s best food and wine! By Aine Dowling

Eat!

Poachers Pantry is offering a ‘Poachers Fare’ five course degustation lunch with all local produce including terrine of wild rabbit, venison tenderloin, and lemon and myrtle sorbet. Match great food with fine Wily Trout wines. The Poachers Bounty degustation dinner is available each Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the Festival. Bookings are essential

Grazing Restaurant at Gundaroo offers a one night only six course duck and wine degustation. This is an annual signature event at Grazing and is not to be missed! This one off event is only on 29 August and bookings are essential—so get in now!

Drink!

Tallagandra Hill Winery at Gundaroo is offering the High Tea experience with sandwiches, petit fours, sweets and savouries, Devonshire teas, and lots of sparkly bubbles. Available 1 – 2 August, 22 – 23 August, and 29 – 30 August. Bookings essential at the winery

Lerida Estate Wines at Lake George is offering a range of events including a Truffle Experience with locally grown truffles and dishes from truffle bread to truffle Crème Brulee included in their regular lunch menu during August. Match your truffle dish with one of Lerida’s great wines. If you’re not into truffles try their Duck and Pinot Master Class or Wine and Cheese Matching Class. Bookings essential for your lunch or master class – book at Lerida. Lerida also has regular lunchtime music in the Barrel Room with various local artists—music is free, lunch at regular menu prices.

Four Winds Vineyard, Murrumbateman are offering a Sangiovese dinner on 15 and 29 August with four Sangiovese wine and mouth-watering pizzas. Join the winemakers from four local wineries and learn all about the wine, and the pizza! Book here

Be Merry!

Bungendore Woodworks Gallery has a merry-making one night only event including fire twirling, live jazz, gluhwein, and a delicious three course dinner of baked lamb shanks with truffle mash, followed by fig and pecan pudding with butterscotch sauce. Vegetarian and special dietary requirements available—please advise when booking. One night only on 29 August—booking essential at the Gallery

Have fun and learn all about truffles on A Truffle Adventure at French Black Truffles, Majura. Start off with a truffle hunt (complete with dogs), then move across to the winery for a taste of truffle infused cheeses, followed by a three course lunch at Pod Food Pialligo to round off the experience. Available now to mid-August depending on the truffle season. For more information and availability contact Mount Majura Vineyard. Own transport is required.

For something completely different try a two hour horse trail with Burnelee Excursions through some of Canberra’s great countryside complete with après ride of hot chocolate and marshmallows. Take a trip through 5,000 acres of beautiful grazing country and natural bushland. Winter trail rides are available on 1, 8, 15, and 29 August at 10am – 12pm and from 1 – 3pm. All levels of experience are catered for—state experience, height and weight when booking so you can be matched with your horse.

For a full list of events visit the Festival website or Facebook page