In Season Specialties
Now everyone knows that good food goes hand in hand with good wine, and the providores, producers, restauranteurs, and grocers of the Southern Downs and Granite Belt will sort you out with the best, freshest, tastiest produce to complement the bumper crop of wines you'll discover. Find an abundance of seasonal fruit and vegetables at local markets and fruit shops but don't pass by the opportunity to buy from roadside stalls throughout the region. There are divinely sweet strawberries, boyseberries and raspberries, and plenty of leafy greens and other vegetables. An abundance of seasonal produce means gourmet goodies are a regional specialty in the Granite Belt. Stock up on local preserves, relishes, chutneys, sauces, jams, vinegars, coulis, ciders, juices and liqueurs and sample handcrafted chocolates, fudge and other sweet treats. Or learn about the flavours of the region at a cooking class, and take home some local knowledge to match your wine and other treats that could not be ignored. While in the region you can sample the regional fare by dining in one of our fine dining a la carte restaurants, quaint cafes or enjoy an authentic counter meal at one of the local hotels. Many of the vineyards also offer either full a la carte dining, or accompaniments to wine tasting, such as cheeses and antipasto. The season also brings with it stunning displays of spring wildflowers, spread throughout the region. Spring is also a great time of year to visit the gardens of the region and is the season for Lavendar. The Southern Downs & Granite Belt is home to a number of Lavender Farms that sell a range of natural body care products, as well as having on site cafes and offering tours of the lavender fields. The best time to visit to see the lavender in full bloom is from mid November through to Christmas (however, whenever you visit the region you will nearly always catch lavender in bloom). To take home some of the region's fresh produce at this time of year, you can look for:
Berries Cauliflower Shallots Baby leaf salad Celery Silverbeet Beans Leeks Spinach Broccoli Lettuce Squash Brussel sprouts Parsley Stonefruit Cabbage Peas Tomatoes Chinese Cabbage Mushrooms Zucchini
Produce listed alphabetically, not in ripening or harvest order, which may vary depending on growing season and weather patterns. Source DPI&F.
MARKETS
For more information contact Southern Downs & Granite Belt Regional Tourism (07) 4661 3122 |
