Just 25 minutes from the CBD, the Swan Valley is Perth’s picnic basket, brimming with fresh produce, region-specific artisanal treats, and stellar wines. The vineyards and local cafes are always open for business, inviting visitors out to explore the abundance of food and wine year-round. Arguably, the best time to visit is during the Swan Valley Harvest, which runs from February 16th to March 5th this year.
Go behind the scenes with venues opening their doors, vineyards, and fields for an exclusive range of activities. Across the three-week program, there are opportunities to engage in everything from long lunches to intimate masterclasses to learn new and niche skills.
Long Lunches
Indulge in the Valley’s abundant fresh produce at one (or multiple) Harvest long lunches.
The lunch series kicks off on February 18th with the Bailey’s Harvest Long Table Lunch — a three-hour soiree of seasonal dishes, beer tastings, live music, and flowing drinks. It’s not just the delicious food drawing people to the Sittella’s Harvest Lunch; it’s their sweeping views of the Valley, too. After lunch with a vista, take the opportunity to tour the winery and meet the winemakers.
If you’ve not yet tried freshwater lobsters, the Marron Feast is the place to do it. Swan Valley Station will be plating the freshwater delicacy straight from their picturesque lake.
Executive Chef Ryan Fels from Upper Reach Winery has a ‘locally-sourced’ ethos, which he’ll showcase across seven small plates. Some of the standouts being Swan Valley sweetcorn puree with Shark Bay tiger prawns and local sherry-braised pork with Keller’s Farm sourdough.
Slightly more casual is the Oakover Grounds luncheon. Paddle about on the aqua trikes, play outdoor games and enjoy a share-style graze of slow-cooked Bullsbrook lamb, fluffy handmade gnocchi, and local-grown figs.
All these lunches run either on Friday, February 24th, Saturday, February 25th, or Sunday, February 26th.
Harvesting Experiences
Keep your hands and feet busy with a spot of grape stomping and honey-making. Kick off your shoes and participate in the authentic winemaking method at Holy Mary Cellars on March 4th and 5th. Harris Organic Wine and Spirits takes the experience one step further by turning you into a grape picker for the day before getting you in the barrel for some stomping.
Slightly less messy – don a bee suit and learn to spin and pour your very own jar of pure Western Australian honey with beekeepers at The House of Honey on February 26th. Owners, Rupert and Kim Phillips, will introduce you to their bees, give you a look at the inside of a hive, and guide you through the honey extraction process.
Tours and Tastings
Take a peek into the ins and outs of harvest season on an organised tour. On February 26th, learn about the staples of the Swan Valley on a Harvest Fresh Produce Tour, where you’ll visit mainstays like Swan Valley Sisters, Keller’s Farm, The House of Honey, and Baba and Dida’s.
Anyone with a penchant for beer, spirit, and food should book a spot on a behind-the-scenes tour of Valley Social’s brewery. See the European glass kettle and copper lauter in action before sampling hemp and garlic oil focaccia, hemp and garlic falafel, and hemp-fed sliders.
Masterclasses
Create your own signature nougat flavour using native ingredients at the Australian Native Nougat Masterclass. Harvested from the grounds of Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery — owned by Wardandi Bibbulmun woman Dale Tilbrook — experiment with the flavours of native mint, lemon myrtle, local coastal greens, strawberry gum, and sandalwood nuts before mixing them into your sticky, chewy, sweet treat. The experts from Mondo Nougat will be on hand to guide you through.
Master the art of making the perfect pesto sauce and gnocchi from scratch so you can truly indulge in A Taste of Italy at Pasta in the Valley. Add the finishing touch to your meal — a dash of fresh cream and some chicken — before tucking into the fruits of your labour with a glass of house wine and grapes fresh from the vineyard to finish. Leave the class with a recipe book so you can replicate the Italian meals from the comfort of your home.
Learn barbecue cooking techniques from Gryphon Smokehouse pitmaster Dan as he discusses entertaining using fire, smoking, and grilling. You don’t have to lift a finger while he explains and demonstrates the best way to cook different types of meat and cuts. After the demonstration at Swan Settlers Market, feast on a premium American barbecue long table lunch overflowing with tender beef brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and pork ribs.
All three masterclasses will run on February 25th or 26th.
Dinners
Spend a balmy summer night in the heart of the Swan Valley at Harvest, dining on carefully curated dishes and locally made wines, beers, and spirits.
On March 4th, celebrate Spanish and Portuguese culture with cena (dinner) at The Naked Fox Cafe and Wine Bar’s Swan Valley Espana. Lose yourself in the world of aromatic whites, vibrant and full-bodied reds, seductive sparklings, and intense dessert wines, each served aside flavoursome tapas and paellas.
Valley Social is relatively new to the valley, as is their unique product. In a first for the region, sample a range of hemp-infused beef raised on the property, gins, vodkas, and beers at the exclusive Valley Social long table dinner under the stars. Director Paul Mavor — the man who brought CBD oil to Australia — will be there for a meet and greet, and head chef Talita Berndt and director Olivia Letrone will run a Q&A session to answer any burning questions you may have about the world of hemp.
Markets
Bringing the whole family? Get everyone’s hands busy picking grapes, enjoy the children’s entertainment and activities, feast on European barbecue food, and dance away to Croatian music at Swan Street Vineyard. Adults can also have a bit of fun for themselves, sampling gin from AmberChes Distillery and aromatic spices from Outer Spice. This will run across all Saturdays and Sundays for the duration of Harvest.
* WIN *
Go in the draw to win a $500 Swan Valley Gift Card by snapping a selfie or photo at one of the dedicated Swan Valley Harvest photo opportunities and sharing it on Instagram. For your entry to count, you must tag @theswanvalley or #swanvalley.
You can enter as many times as you like from as many of the locations you can visit over the Harvest period. The prize will be drawn on March 7th, with winners notified via direct message.
For the full range of events and to purchase tickets visit swanvalley.com.au/harvest.
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Lead image: Supplied
This piece was written in collaboration with the City of Swan
