A PRESSING ENGAGEMENT and a wheat beer, are available on tap. The FOOD & The Hunter Valley was the cradle of the wine Moorilla Estate restaurant, 'named The Source, WINE industry in Australia but is also building a offers al fresco meals on balconies overlooking reputation for its olives. Many small Hunter the Derwent River, while wine tastings take wineries have branched out into olive production place in the wineroom, which has gorgeous CJo and several sell olive products at their cellar doors. views of Mount Wellington. Moorilla is a 10- The Feast of the Olive, to be held on the weekend minute drive from Hobart CBD. See of September 24-25, gives visitors the chance to www.moorilla.com.au. learn all about olives and olive oils. Nine venues, including wineries Gartelmann, Wandin Valley and BUSH TUCKER Tintilla, will host the festivities. Entry is free. See Country NSW used to be a culinary wasteland the Hunter Olive Association website at where visitors had the option of dining on pub TRAIL OF www.hunterolives.asn.au. grub, Chinese of dubious origin or Maccas. In the central west, Orange has set the bar high BOUTIQUE PENINSULA with acclaimed restaurants including Selkirk's TEMPTATION There are few prettier wine regions in Australia and Lolli Redini. Coming up fast on the rails, You'll find these destinations are all than the Mornington Peninsula, just a one-hour however, is Cowra, where the dozen or so drive from Melbourne. The region specialises in wineries in the region have been joined by in Qood taste, writes WINSOR DOBBIN. chardonnay and pinot noir and is home to almost several boutique food producers and new 60 wineries. Old favourites such as Stonier, restaurants. Neila is top-notch, while two VARIETALS THE SPICE OF LIFE T'Galiant, Tuck's Ridge and Paringa Estate have newcomers are making a big impression: La Tired of drinking chardonnays and shirazes? A been joined by exciting newcomers including Vita, an old house turned into a modern space trip to the Brown Brothers cellar door at Milawa Yabby Lake, Scorpo and Crittenden at Dromana. that has a deli, cafe and restaurant serving in north-east Victoria might be in order. The If you are planning a trip, contact the Mornington good modern European food in the evenings, Brown family, vignerons for more than 100 years, Peninsula Vignerons Association on (03) and the Cowra Smokehouse, which serves are constantly experimenting with new grape 5989 2377 or by email [email protected]. excellent deli platters using meat, fish and varieties in their "kindergarten" winery project vegetables smoked next door. and grow more than 40 varieties, more than any MORE AT MOORILLA other Australian winery. The vineyards at Milawa Moorilla Estate, one of Tasmania's best-known BIKERS'DELIGHT experience a mild to warm climate but stand at wineries, is about to open a brewery in the There are few better ways to explore a wine the gateway to the King Valley. The further up vineyard grounds. The brewery is part of a region than on foot or by bicycle - and the this valley one travels, the cooler the weather. If major development for the estate, which has Clare Valley Riesling Trail, which runs for 27 you've never tasted a sangiovese, a petit verdot, added a function centre, restaurant and cellar kilometres along an old railway line, offers the barbera, tarrango or a graciano, the Brown FOOD AND FOOTY Guillaume door. Beer production can be viewed from the perfect blend of exercise and excess. Two hours' Brothers cellar door is open 9am-5pm. Lunch at Brahimi does double duty at second-floor restaurant bar while the finished north of Adelaide, the trail runs through the Epicurean Centre, open from llam to 3pm. Hamilton Island. products, including a pilsner, cloudy pale ale picturesque countryside between the small .