Organisers of the Otway Harvest Trail were thrilled with the outcome of their inaugural 'A Taste of the Otways' lunch held on Saturday March 5th in the gardens at the beautiful Tarndwarncoort. Eighty five lucky guests were delighted with the fare of the Otways Harvest Trail, presented over 8 courses with wine and beers to match each course;

• delicious vegetables and meats courses by Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm, Yeoarra Hill Winery, Otway Estate Winery & Brewery, Bellbrae Harvest Restaurant, and Old Lorne Road Olives Restaurant and Olive Grove
• olives and tapenades from Old Lorne Road Olives and Birregurra Olives
• shitake mushrooms from newest member Otway Forest Shitake
• a profusion of berries from Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm and Beechy Berries
• coffee and fabulous Portuguese tarts provided by Sticky Spoons Delectorium
• beautiful music thanks to Martians Cafe

Enjoying A Taste Of The OtwaysGuests went home with great enthusiasm about the Trail and what it has to ffer to tourists and locals alike. Many had not previously had the opportunity to sample the magnificent wine which is produced in the unique Otways soil and were most impressed by its multi-award-winning quality.

Drinks were served by the wine makers themselves, providing a magical addition to the diners' experience - Blakes Estate, Brown Magpie, Dinny Goonan, Gosling Creek, Otway Estate and Peveril Wines.

During the course of they day, it was also discovered that two Otway Harvest Trail members have been included in the newest addition of The Age Cheap Eats Guide - a huge accolade. Congratulations go to Sticky Spoons Delectorium in Deans Marsh (after only 8 months in business) and Farm Foods in Birregurra.

The resounding calls by diners for an encore performance almost certainly decrees the need for more such events as this in the future. Contact 5288 7399 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to be included in the email database to ensure that you are among the first to hear about the next event.

Welcome to A Taste Of The OtwaysFor more information the Otway Harvest Trail, see the Otway Harvest Trail website (otwayharvesttrail.org.au), subscribe to the Otway Harvest Trail Twitter feed (OtwayHarvest), or pick up a brochure from Surf Coast Visitor Information Centres (including Winchelsea), Winchelsea Larder, or the Winchelsea Tearooms among other outlets. As well as the 31 businesses included in the brochure, farmgate members Smith & Gunn and Rohdeworks, both in the Deans Marsh area, are well worth dropping by.

The Otway Harvest Trail are grateful for all the wonderful volunteers who came along to help make the day the great success that it was, and to Tarndwarncoort for providing such a magnificent venue, and to Yeowarra Hill and Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm for all their support in providing equipment and the organisation of the kitchen.