26 March to 5 April.
The IGA Taste Great Southern is an 11-day celebration of award-winning wine, fabulous food, fresh local produce and the amazing flavours of the Great Southern region. With events strung along the coastline and running inland towards the hinterland and farming country, it takes in the major centres of Albany, Denmark, Mount Barker, Kojonup, Katanning and Ongerup.
So, what is happening over the 11 days?
This celebration is not to be missed, with 20+ chefs, including local talent and the winner of the first ever series of MasterChef Australia, Julie Goodwin. With over 30 scheduled events planned in various locations, there is certain to be something to please your palate.
Visit Taste Great Southern Events to see everything on offer, and be quick to book your tickets: some sell out early. Tickets can be purchased through this link.
Free events
To help you start planning your trip, we have listed the free events below.
Farmers Market, Collie Street Albany, Saturday 28 March and Saturday 4 April, 8am to 12pm.
Here you will find all the fresh produce you need to see you through the next few months, and it is a great place to meet real farmers from the local area. There will be a wide range of freshly picked fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy, fish and seafood, all grown and caught nearby.
Shop Local, Eat Local with Julie Goodwin. Albany Farmers Market, 28 March, 9am to 10am.
Julie Goodwin is one of the nation's favourite home-style cooks and the winner of the first ever series of MasterChef Australia. Join her as she wanders through the markets, exploring all that is on offer before she prepares a delicious meal from the fresh local ingredients. There will also be a chance to have your cookbook signed.
Shop Local, Eat Local with Paul West. Collie Street Albany, Saturday 4 April, 9am to 10am.
River Cottage Australia former host Paul West will be wandering the markets and sampling the fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables on offer, and he will also be available for a cookbook signing.
Albany Boatshed Markets. Albany Boatshed, 256 Princess Royal Drive, Sunday 29 March and Sunday 5 April, 10am to 1pm.
The Albany Boatshed markets run every Sunday. Gourmet food and great wines are on offer, along with local growers showcasing their fresh produce and a variety of products made by local artisans. You are sure to find something special and unique here at the Boatshed Markets.
One event not to be missed
Albany Food and Wine Festival. Saturday 4 April, 11.30am to 5.30pm.
This celebration of food and wine is held at Eyre Park in the heart of Albany and features local award-winning wine by the crate load, craft beer, local food and live music. There will be over 100 wines to sip, taste and enjoy while you take in the smells of good food and the sound of the live music playing.
Various activities and events happen inside the festival, including:
- The Harvey Norman Cooking Theatre, where you can pick up great new cooking tips from talented celebrity chefs Paul West, Derek Lau and Amy Hamilton.
- The Wine Theatre presented by the Great Southern Development Commission, where you can taste and learn from Foni Pollitt, the 2018 WA Good Food Guide Sommelier of the Year, at one of the three wine classes on offer.
And who doesn't love a lucky door prize? Every visitor is given a coupon at the gate to fill in and drop in the competition barrel for a chance to win cases of amazing Great Southern wine.
By attending, you help support growth in the local area and the farms, wineries and producers who love to grow and create for all our wonderful guests. As a special thank you, enjoy the complimentary wine tasting on offer. Tickets for this event can be purchased here.
Autumn Offerings, Yongergnow, Ongerup Community Resource Centre.
Once you have enjoyed all that the Great Southern coastline has to offer, head inland towards Ongerup and enjoy a five-course long-table lunch with Stuart Laws. Receive a glass of bubbles on arrival in a relaxed, comfortable setting in the heart of the countryside, while you take in the beautiful scenery that WA has to offer. Remember to pack a lovely bottle of your favourite wine to enjoy alongside your meal.
Autumn Offerings is held on Saturday 28 March, 11am to 3pm, showcasing the best produce that autumn has to offer. Tickets can be purchased through this link.
A two-hour drive west points you towards Frankland River, home to one of Western Australia's best kept secrets: wine. The farmland is rich in bushland and wildflowers, and the cooler climate makes it the perfect wine-growing location.
Frankland River Cellar Door Experience. Saturday 28 March, 1.30pm to 7pm.
A wide range of grapes are grown in this region, but it is particularly known for its Shiraz and Riesling. This bus tour takes you to Frankland Estate, one of the most successful and popular wineries in the region, where you will taste some of the most sought-after wines and foods while enjoying the views of the rolling hills and colourful bushland.
Somewhere to sleep
When you have shopped, eaten until you cannot fit another bite, tasted all the local wines and danced the days away, you will need a comfortable place to rest and rejuvenate. Cornwall House Accommodation is a 12-room motel with plenty of country charm and updated amenities, right in the heart of Kojonup and around a 45-minute drive from Frankland River. You could easily spend a day here visiting the local attractions in this beautiful little town, and really relax before heading home after a fun-filled stay in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.
Our rooms are air-conditioned, each with an ensuite, free WiFi, tea and coffee making facilities, a microwave and a refrigerator, with free onsite parking and a shared camp kitchen for guests.
