Latest news with #BickleyHarvestFestival
West Australian
02-05-2025
- West Australian
Bar & Bites: Cider house rules and the best of the Perth Hills on show during Bickley Harvest Festival
There are golden experiences in them Perth Hills. This realisation dawned in Isaac Newtonian fashion, when an apple literally clunked onto Bar & Bites' noggin during a family fruit-picking session at Core Cider House in Pickering Brook last weekend. The cidery is one of more than 20 venues taking part in the Bickley Harvest Festival kicking off on May 3 and 4, before running throughout May. Team B&B was thoroughly impressed with Core Cider, from the (quite strong) sparkling apple, pear and ginger cider to the tourist-ready tucker, including macadamia crusted crocodile tail with delicious lemon myrtle mayo and Fremantle octopus with romesco. The orchard itself is stunning. Before hitting Core, we tasted wine at La Fattoria, a restaurant and winery an apple's throw down Merrivale Road. Former teachers Eric and Lucy Radice run 'the farm' — Eric's Sicilian family have been on the property for around 80 years, one of many Italian immigrants in the Bickley Valley. La Fattoria has 10 different varieties of Italian grapes, including Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and sun-lovin' Montepulciano, making 13 wines plus limoncello, grappa and an intriguing fig leaf liqueur. Another local winery is Plume Estate, run by relative newcomers in affable Dutch couple Marcus and Anita Geisler. Perched atop one side of the valley with sweeping views, Plume is a cellar door offering tastings and sales of estate-grown wines plus tasty plates courtesy of the Geisler's daughter-in-law Bianca Raub. Her speck and onion flammkuchen (basically a flatbread pizza) was excellent, especially with a glass of pinot noir. We also squeezed in a quick wine tasting at Lawnbrook Estate, which has a restaurant, vineyard and distillery on its beautiful grounds. Their sparkling pinot noir chardonnay, rested on lees for a few years, is a ripper. Bickley Valley boasts cider, beer, wine and, of course, spirits. B&B dropped into HHH Spirits, at this stage a big shed off Walnut Road to try Zimbabwean-born civil engineer turned distiller Hilton Izzett's liquid alchemy. While this is currently a much less polished hospitality offering than, say, Core or Plume, whisky and gin devotees should pencil this into any Hills itinerary. And given Bickley Valley is less than a 40-minute drive from the city, this unheralded slice of WA makes for a brilliant day trip. Visit for more. GLASS ACT IN THE SHADOWS During May, Northbridge mainstay Shadow Wine Bar is pouring all wines by the glass, giving patrons a chance to try some drops usually only available for those forking out for a bottle. The grape idea is part of the Coravin World Wine Tour, a global initiative from the wine preservation device hitting five capital city venues across Australia. This means Shadow will be pouring hard-to-find drops from the likes of Occhipinti, COS, Farvie, Ochota Barrels, Juniper Estate, Picardy and Dormilona. Located at 214 William Street, Shadow Wine Bar is open Monday to Saturday from noon until late. OH, VIENNETTA! A beloved dessert gets a local makeover with Chicho Gelato banging out a Viennetta gelato cake for Mother's Day. Nothing says 'good on ya, Mum!' better than a Dubai chocolate base layered with pistachio gelato, chocolate sheets and rosewater gelato. Costing $90 each, Mamma's Viennetta gelato cakes are available for pre-order until midnight on May 6, with pick ups from Chicho's Fremantle or Mt Lawley stores from May 7-11.
West Australian
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Take 5: Food festivals celebrate the best WA produce from the Perth Hills and Gascoyne to the city
TAKE 5 Compiled by Simon Collins Experience the best of WA food and drink at these fun festivals. BICKLEY HARVEST FESTIVAL May 3-4 This autumn event returns with more than 20 venues in the stunning Perth Hills showcasing the finest local wine, spirits, food and produce across its opening weekend. This year, Bickley Harvest Festival extends across the entire month of May at Core Cider, Fairbrossen, Hainault, La Fattoria, Myattsfield, Plume Estate and other Hills favourites. GASCOYNE FOOD FESTIVAL 2025 July 26-August 31 Australia's largest regional food experience expands to 16 events, led by acclaimed chef Ben Ing hosting the opening Carnarvon Long Table Lunch on July 26. Gascoyne Food Festival also features culinary offerings in Exmouth, Shark Bay and Dirk Hartog Island highlighting local produce and producers against the region's incredible landscapes. SLOW FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL May 2-4 Albion on Swan in Henley Brook hosts the inaugural Slow Food and Wine Festival, bringing together Noongar culture and the influence of Croatian and Italian families on the Swan Valley, just 30 minutes from the Perth CBD. Starring tastings from local winemakers Talijancich, Local Weirdos, Vino Volta and Swan Valley Wines, the event kicks off with an immersive six-course dinner on May 2, followed by two sessions on May 3 and one on May 4. UNWINED PERTH May 16-17 This May, immerse yourself in the ultimate winter celebration at UnWined Perth, held at the picturesque Supreme Court Gardens. The event highlights the best of WA's wine, food and entertainment, offering a big day out in the heart of the city. This year, festival-goers can indulge in the Bottomless Long Table, a 90-minute session of bottomless wine and beer paired with tasty tapas. LITTLE CREATURES HOP HARVEST FESTIVAL Today, April 26 Fremantle brewing institution Little Creatures celebrates 25 years of beer and this year's fresh harvest of hops with live music, craft beer and plenty of fun at the Mews Road microbrewery from midday to 8pm today.
Perth Now
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Eat and drink the best of WA at these foodie festivals
TAKE 5 Compiled by Simon Collins Experience the best of WA food and drink at these fun festivals. BICKLEY HARVEST FESTIVAL May 3-4 This autumn event returns with more than 20 venues in the stunning Perth Hills showcasing the finest local wine, spirits, food and produce across its opening weekend. This year, Bickley Harvest Festival extends across the entire month of May at Core Cider, Fairbrossen, Hainault, La Fattoria, Myattsfield, Plume Estate and other Hills favourites. GASCOYNE FOOD FESTIVAL 2025 July 26-August 31 Australia's largest regional food experience expands to 16 events, led by acclaimed chef Ben Ing hosting the opening Carnarvon Long Table Lunch on July 26. Gascoyne Food Festival also features culinary offerings in Exmouth, Shark Bay and Dirk Hartog Island highlighting local produce and producers against the region's incredible landscapes. Canadian chef Ben Ing is the star attraction at the Gascoyne Food Festival. Credit: Supplied SLOW FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL May 2-4 Albion on Swan in Henley Brook hosts the inaugural Slow Food and Wine Festival, bringing together Noongar culture and the influence of Croatian and Italian families on the Swan Valley, just 30 minutes from the Perth CBD. Starring tastings from local winemakers Talijancich, Local Weirdos, Vino Volta and Swan Valley Wines, the event kicks off with an immersive six-course dinner on May 2, followed by two sessions on May 3 and one on May 4. The inaugural Slow Food and Wine Festival will be held in the Swan Valley. Credit: Supplied UNWINED PERTH May 16-17 This May, immerse yourself in the ultimate winter celebration at UnWined Perth, held at the picturesque Supreme Court Gardens. The event highlights the best of WA's wine, food and entertainment, offering a big day out in the heart of the city. This year, festival-goers can indulge in the Bottomless Long Table, a 90-minute session of bottomless wine and beer paired with tasty tapas. LITTLE CREATURES HOP HARVEST FESTIVAL Today, April 26 Fremantle brewing institution Little Creatures celebrates 25 years of beer and this year's fresh harvest of hops with live music, craft beer and plenty of fun at the Mews Road microbrewery from midday to 8pm today.
