Riverina Food and Wine Trail

Known as the food bowl of Australia, the Riverina is a foodie’s dream destination with exciting food festivals, a wide range of fresh produce and great wines to taste from Wagga Wagga to Leeton and Griffith. 

Here are our suggestions for the ultimate Riverina food and wine trail experience. 

 
With a large percentage of residents claiming Italian heritage, it’s no surprise Griffith has a thriving food scene that produces a range of delicious gourmet specialties. 

The people of Griffith love a good food festival and each year the city hosts The Real Juice Company Citrus Sculptures, part of the Griffith Festival of Gardens in October, the Festival of the Sausage (Festa delle Salsicce) in August, unWINEd Riverina, which celebrates wine and food matching in October; and the Taste Riverina Food Festival, a month of food and wine events every October.

• There’s plenty of choice when eating out in Griffith. Try the local seasonal produce at Limone Dining; tuck into traditional wholesome Italian at Zecca Handmade Italian, and enjoy a fresh coffee at The Roastery. Stock up on delicious Italian pastries from Bertoldo's Panetteria, salami, prosciutto and ham from Codemo Smallgoods and olives, relish, pesto and more from Riverina Grove, then head to nearby Cocoparra National Park for a picnic and walks to Falcon Falls and Jacks Creek.
• Next stop is Leeton, with its attractive art deco architecture, wineries, produce markets and two notable bird sanctuaries; Fivebough Wetlands, home to 170 bird species, and Turkey Flat, which has a birdwatching lookout and picnic area. Rice is a big deal in Leeton, and the harvest is celebrated biennially at Easter, over five days, with the Leeton Sunrice Festival. The event includes a street parade, Longest Lunch, busking, street performances and more. In October, the Leeton Show highlights the best agriculture of the area while the Leeton Chill and Grill is a pop-up produce market in Mountford Park. Taste some of the best wines in the region at the cellar doors of Leeton’s award-winning wineries, Lillypilly Estate Wines and Toorak Winery. Finish the day in Narrandera, with a stay at Wisteria Cottage, a renovated cottage on a tree-lined street.
• A must-visit is Coolamon Cheese for cheese and wine tastings and cheese-inspired meals. Join a cheese tour with expert cheese maker Barry Lillywhite, or pick up some delicious Riverina produce for a picnic in the nearby Kindra State Forest. 
• For sweet treats, the famous Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, located in an old flour mill, offers guided tours where you can watch organic licorice and chocolate being made before indulging in a hot chocolate in the restaurant. The nearby Houlaghans Valley Wines is a great spot for wine tasting and enjoying the scenic views overlooking the valley. 
• Wagga Wagga, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, has a vibrant food and wine scene, Visit Knights Meats & Deli for locally sourced produce; learn how to bake at Food I Am cooking school, and find out more about olives and olive oil at Wollundry Grove Olives. Coffee lovers should try Blessed Bean, with its four different coffee blends, and Trail Street Coffee, popular with locals and visitors.
• Head out of town to the local boutique wineries, just a short drive from the city centre, including Bidgeebong Wines, Eunonyhareenyha Winery, Borambola Wines and Wagga Wagga Winery, where you can also stay for lunch or dinner. 
• Tumbarumba in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains, is home to cool-climate wines, food and wine festivals, and alpine drives. Visit Courabyra Wines for tastings and tours, and Tumbarumba Wines Escape for a tour before for a long, lazy lunch with a view of the vineyards or mountains. At Jolly Berries you can buy blueberries with a flavour made more intense by the cool climate of the region, as well as blueberry conserves, sweet sauce, cheese topping, port, chutney, dried and chocolate-coated blueberries. 
• The annual Tumbarumba Tastebuds event from 28-29 October has combined with the Open Garden and Flower Show for a celebration of gardens, food and wine. Visit gardens, cellar doors, a fresh food market and a sunset dinner. At February’s Tumbafest, music, food and wine are celebrated with live music, food stalls, wine tastings and cooking demonstrations.

For more information on the Riverina go to www.visitnsw.com.