Tasting Australia’s Winter Series festival, 30 food and drink events around South Australia in July

A new food and drink festival will warm the hearts of South Australians and interstate visitors this winter.

A new food and drink festival will warm the hearts of South Australians and interstate visitors this winter.

Tasting Australia’s inaugural Winter Series will build on the success of the autumn festival and feature almost 50 events across seven regions in July.

Director Simon Bryant said he was always looking to expand Tasting Australia’s annual 10-day event – usually held in autumn – and hoped the new festival would encourage more people to explore the state during the colder months.

Callum Hann and Themis Chryssidis will host a Fire and Feast event at their restaurant, Lou’s Place, in the Barossa Valley, as part of Tasting Australia’s new Winter Series festival. Picture: Matt Turner.

“We want to inspire people to get out and about this winter, to travel regionally and discover a new side of their favourite SA products and venues.

“Autumn might be my favourite season... but winter has another level of magic in SA.”

The program includes several bespoke and one-of-a-kind experiences, Bryant said, and plenty of winter-themed events featuring “fireplaces, big barbecues and winter harvests”.

“The style of eating and drinking changes in the regions during winter. I love the way everyone has hooked onto the sentiment of this festival,” he said.

Former MasterChef star Callum Hann and Themis Chryssidis will host a ‘Fire and Feast’ event at their Barossa Valley restaurant, Lou’s Place.

The duo will cook a range of local meats and vegetables over a giant fire pit, right in front of their eatery at Lou Miranda Estate.

Hann said it was exciting to get a “double dose” of Tasting Australia in 2021 after last year’s festival was postponed due to the pandemic.

“In summer we feel like eating lighter things like sashimi and salad but winter lends itself to those hearty, big flavours that work really well with fire,” he said.

“You can do stuff in winter that you could never do during the summer season so it’ll be really fun hosting an event like this.”

Callum Hann and Themis Chryssidis will host a Fire and Feast event at their restaurant, Lou’s Place, in the Barossa Valley, as part of Tasting Australia’s new Winter Series festival. Picture Matt Turner.

Over 50,000 people, including thousands from interstate, visited Town Square in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga for this year’s Tasting Australia, with over 90 events sold out.

Tickets are on sale now at tastingaustralia.com.au