Wander the Wingecarribee food and wine trail will rejuvenate the Southern Highlands

A new food and wine festival will showcase the best the Southern Highlands has to offer while breathing life into the region during COVID. A number of popular artisans are already on board.

The Wander the Wingecarribee will hero local produce and the area’s history. Picture: Abbie Melle

A new food and wine festival will showcase the best local produce the Southern Highlands has to offer while giving artisans a lift during COVID.

Wander the Wingecarribee trail will combine the very best of what the Southern Highlands has to offer - historical villages, natural beauty, and delicious culinary delights in April.

The guided walk through Berrima will inlude 10 heritage points of interest, starting at Harper’s Mansion and ending at the Berrima Courthouse.

Each of the stations will have tastings of local food produce and regional wines, with prominent providers such as Gumnut Patisserie and Bendooley Estate, Harpers Mansion, Schmokin, Baked in Berrima, Joadja Estate Wines,  Peppergreen Estate, Berrima Courthous are already on board.

“Exploring the village by foot allows guests to see things they might not usually spot, hear the stories that shaped Berrima and do this whilst sampling delicious food and sipping on local wines,” Wander the Wingecarribee organiser Amanda Fry said.

Gumnut Patisserie owners Tracy Nickl and Vicki Nickl and their son Josh have signed up for Wander the Wingecarribee. Picture: Adam Yip

The event can accommodate a maximum of 500 people and will be staggering multiple departures of groups of 15-20 people to ensure COVID-safety.

Buses will pick up guests from Mittagong, Bowral, or Moss Vale and transport them to the event to avoid traffic congestion.

Local residents are satisfied with the planning and are excited about the opportunities of the inaugural festival.

“We’re very happy about it. We’re very supportive,” Berrima Residents Association president Eric Savage.

“We’ve been asked to have residents at each of the stations to give some local history,” said Mr Savage.

The picturesque Bendooley Estate, Berrima, will be included in the festival.

The organisers of the event, Experience Nature, scheduled the event for Heritage Month to showcase the historical village of Berrima in all its glory.

The trail will cost $195 for the 10-course degustation and transport.

“This new and exciting cultural and heritage event for the Southern Highlands will act as a flagship visitor experience that will herald the region’s picturesque Autumn season of events,” Destination Southern Highlands group manager Steve Rosa said.

Currently, the development application for the event is before Wingecarribee Council awaiting approval.

If approved, the festival will be held on April 10.