Food and Wine

Regional Australia's great variety in landforms and climate is reflected in the variations in the food and wine grown across the country. In recent years this variation has also translated into variations in regional cooking as individual areas strive to take advantage of local produce, to the great benefit of all of us who love our food and wine.

The diversity offered by regional Australia in food and wine makes it difficult to present a simple summary. However, the following references will provide you with at least a taste.

The Australian Regional Food Guide began as a book but now also has a very useful on-line guide.

Take a journey of discovery, region by region throughﾠevery Australian State and Territory, and see the countryside unfold as you read. Or better still, take this book with you as an invaluable guide when you travel.

Among the over 1500 entries you will find:

• Farmers who raise everything from quail to buffalos
• A micro-climate that allows tropical fruit to flourish in southern NSW
• Dozens of country restaurants that proudly use local produce
• The country's fledgling super-gourmet industries of truffles and saffron
• Where to find everything from sourdough to spuds or smoked salmon
• Discover, too, superb local cheeses, chillies and cherries, and where to dine on organic beef or the freshest seafood in Australia.
• Participate in bush food tours, or take part in festivals that celebrate the wealth of the local soil

The Australian Regional Food web site  - http://www.australianregionalfoodguide.com/ - contains a range of useful information including a variety of useful links together with details on regional markets and food and wine events.

Produced quarterly, Regional Food Australia is a glossy magazine that showcases Australian regional food, wine, cooking and life style.

The Regional Food Australia web site - http://www.regionalfood.com.au/ - provides details of the magazine and associated activities and includes a Blog on regional food issues.

Gourmet Safaris started over 7 years ago as a "mad idea" and has grown into a successful program of events in Sydney, Australia and the world. All adventures are designed by Gourmet Safaris director Maeve O'Meara.

A visit to the Gourmet Safaris web site - www.gourmetsafaris.com.au - will give you a taste of some of the regional food tours now on offer and in so doing introduce you to another set of regional variations.

Another useful site, this one focused on wine, is www.winediva.com.au. This site contains a range of information on all of Australia's wine regions and also includes event information for those who would like to combine their first visit with an event.

Life becomes more difficult if you want to follow up these general references to explore individual areas in detail. Unfortunately, most Australian regions do nor present themselves in ways that make them easy to find -at least so far as food and wine are concerned - via simple web searches.

The best clue we can offer here is to search on the town or region name once you have identified something that you are interested in from the general references. Most local council web sites include at least some food and wine information - Orange is a good example: see http://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?objectid=0606145E-B418-4F82-4FD28F08C9537BAE. You can then follow up direct with the area in question