It’s the event that all foodies and wine lovers look forward to all year; Taste Great Southern. This festival is understated and elegant. You have to travel that little bit further (approx. 5 hours from Perth) but that just adds to the feeling that you’re experiencing something that little bit unique.
There are some big hitters at Taste Great Southern, like the first-ever MasterChef winner, Julie Goodwin, but also heaps of local winemakers and real trailblazers in the WA food scene.
We’ve listed our 7 MUST DO events below, so you can prioritise what to do first and not miss out on something that really tickles your taste buds! Taste Great Southern kicks off on 26 March and runs until 5 April.
- Dinner by the Lake with Julie Goodwin
Date: Saturday, 28 March from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Tickets: $135 – Buy Now
Enjoy an unforgettable dining experience with celebrity chef, Julie Goodwin, the first-ever winner of MasterChef. Relax in nature and share amazing food and wine with friends at The Lake House Denmark. We’re sure she’ll be whipping up some amazing dishes – and if luck is on our side, perhaps even her famous passionfruit puddle pie!
- Frankland River Cellar Door Experience
Date: Saturday, 28 March from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Tickets: $85 – Buy Now
The Frankland River is one of Australia’s best-kept secrets. It is rising in ranks as one of WA’s most successful wine regions garnering international recognition for their cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc. At this exclusive masterclass, you’ll be able to try some of the top wines in this region and enjoy a variety of canapes paired perfectly. It’s a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
- Galafrey Wines Long Table Lunch
Date: Sunday, 29 March from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Tickets: $120 – Buy Now
Grab your tickets while you can as this event is sure to sell out! Herb Faust, a winning contestant on Iron Chef, has a meal of a lifetime planned for guests at the beautiful Galafrey Wines cellar door. Allow your taste buds to go on a spiritual journey as he takes you through a delectable lunch with wine pairings by Galafrey’s CEO and winemaker Kim Tyrer. A finalist in the Women in Wine Awards and a Top 50 Young Gun Winemaker, we can guarantee you will be in excellent hands!
- Beef It Up
Date: Friday, 3 April from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Tickets: $120 – Buy Now
Calling all carnivores – this one is for you! This dinner will feature only the best and freshest produce available in the Great Southern region. The menu was handcrafted by celebrity chef Derek Lau and restaurateur Nic Lancaster, we are sure you’ll leave fully satisfied and plenty buzzed. Each course will be paired by only the best wines offered at The Lake House Denmark and Plantagenet Wines. Seriously… buy your tickets now!
Photo from @duesouthtavern (via IG)
- Big BBQ
Date: Saturday, 28 March from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Tickets: $20 to $90 – Buy Now
Who doesn’t love an Aussie BBQ? Nic Lancaster, the owner of Due South, will be hosting this family-friendly smoke-out that is perfect for the whole family. If there’s one thing we know for sure, the team at Due South sure do know their way around the grill. Head over to their restaurant for big piles of meat, plenty of sides and take in those spectacular waterfront views.
- High Cheese
Date: Friday, 27 March and Friday, 2 April from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Tickets: $65 – UPDATE: This event has sold out.
Who doesn’t love cheese? Back by popular demand, The Beach House at Bayside will once again be showcasing an un-brie-lievably range of delicious cheeses. Cheese so delicious you could cry! Taste them all but save room for the grand finale – a raclette experience that promises to be ooey, gooey and LIFE CHANGING.
- Singlefile Wines Coco D’vino Masterclass
Date: Sunday, 5 April from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Tickets: $94 – Buy Now
This one is made for chocoholics. Eat to your heart’s content as you will be served only the highest-quality cocoa beans sourced worldwide. Paired perfectly with Australia’s finest wines, your taste buds will go on a roller coaster as they discover the exquisite sensations with the marriage of these sinfully good pairings. The fun continues afterwards as each guest goes home with 3 chocolate bars – and you don’t have to share if you don’t want to. Did we mention this experience made it to Gourmet Traveller’s Top 50 wine experiences in the world?
So if you were looking for an excuse to head to the Great Southern, let these delectable events be it! If you’re ready to start planning your food and wine adventure, check out the range of accommodation, from cosy B&Bs to luxury oceanfront villas – our region has it all.