Borambola Wines, BorambolaCredit: Destination NSW
Borambola Wines cellar door and wine tastings in Borambola.
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Follow the wine trail
The Riverina is the biggest wine producing region of New South Wales. Most of the vineyards and cellar doors are centred around the town of Griffith, but there are more wineries to explore around the towns of Wagga Wagga, Leeton and Gundagai. A leisurely scenic drive from Griffith will lead you to the cellar doors of leading Riverina brands such as De Bortoli, Calabria Family Wines, Lillypilly Estate, Nugan Estate and McWilliam’s, whose cellar door is even shaped like a wine barrel. After a few leisurely hours of wine tasting, head to Borambola Wines, near Wagga Wagga, for a tour or simply to relax in the grounds of the winery’s elegant 1880s homestead.
Sip spirits and brews
If you prefer a pint to a pinot, head to Barellan, a 40-minute drive east of Griffith, to try the community-owned brews made with local barley by Barellan Beer – found on tap at the Commercial Hotel and the Barellan and District War Memorial Club. In Wagga Wagga, you can taste beers with a difference at family-owned brewpub Thirsty Crow Brewing Co – try the smooth vanilla milk stout paired with house-baked pizza, the dough of which is made using the brand’s sporting ale. Corowa Distilling Co produces whiskeys and gins that win awards the world over – try the Mad Dog Morgan, named after an infamous bushranger that hid out in this part of the world. Or head to Whitton Malt House, set on an immense estate on the outskirts of Griffith near Leeton. Here, you’ll be able to sample whiskey, vodka and gin; have a round of 'aqua' golf on the property’s lake; try tag and release fishing; and stay the night in one of the one- or two-bedroom lakefront villas.
Calabria Wines, Griffith Credit: Destination NSW
Friends tasting wine at Calabria Family Wines, a family-owned winery established in 1945 offering tastings, functions and tours in Griffith,
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Calabria Wines, Griffith Credit: Destination NSW
Friends tasting wine at Calabria Family Wines, a family-owned winery established in 1945 offering tastings, functions and tours in Griffith,
Corowa Distilling Co., Corowa Credit: Tyson Mayr
Man enjoying a tasting experience at Corowa Distilling Co, Corowa.
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Corowa Distilling Co., Corowa Credit: Tyson Mayr
Man enjoying a tasting experience at Corowa Distilling Co, Corowa.
Forage at a farmer’s market
Start your foodie adventure at the Riverina Producers Market, held each Thursday afternoon at the Wagga Wagga Showground. Here orange juice is squeezed from locally grown navel and Valencia oranges and local farmers set up stalls to offer freshly picked produce. You’ll find locally grown apples, eggs, garlic and more, as well as excellent cuts of lamb and beef that are perfect for a barbecue. You can also find a great selection of local gourmet fare at Knights Meats & Deli in Wagga Wagga, with most produce sourced from within a 160km radius of the store.
Or head straight for the farm
No visit to the Riverina is complete without meeting some of the producers at the very farms their produce is grown. Tours at Catania Fruit Salad Farm, near Griffith, start at the property’s old farmhouse before moving through the vineyard and orderly groves of trees. Your experience concludes with a tasting plate of fruits, nuts, preserves and wines. (You can also stay the night in a three-bedroom cottage on the property.) Or call ahead and make an appointment to meet the growers and indulge in locally grown olives at Wollundry Grove Olives near Wagga Wagga – it’s famous for its fine oils and table olives. Also in Wagga, at Bidgee Strawberries and Cream see you can meet the farmer, learn how a strawberry farm works and pick your own punnet.
Catania Fruit Salad Farm, Hanwood Credit: Destination NSW
Guests aboard the Catania Fruit Salad Farm tour bus in Hanwood, near Griffith.
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Catania Fruit Salad Farm, Hanwood Credit: Destination NSW
Guests aboard the Catania Fruit Salad Farm tour bus in Hanwood, near Griffith.
Catania Fruit Salad Farm, Hanwood Credit: Destination NSW
Woman fruit picking at Catania Fruit Salad Farm, Hanwood on the outskirts of Griffith.
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Catania Fruit Salad Farm, Hanwood Credit: Destination NSW
Woman fruit picking at Catania Fruit Salad Farm, Hanwood on the outskirts of Griffith.
Explore Griffith’s Italian heritage
Some 60 per cent of Griffith’s residents can claim Italian heritage – you’ll spot the European nation’s unmistakable influence in the wines, cheeses and olives produced in the region. Indulge in delicious modern Australian fare with an Italian twist at Limone Dining, which showcases local seasonal produce in an ever-evolving menu of fine food. Chef and owner Luke Piccolo grew up cooking with an abundant supply of fresh produce from nearby Piccolo Family Farm, a working property that provides most of the restaurant’s herbs, garnishes, fruits and vegetables. You can drop by the farm for tasting experiences and learn stories of the property. Or try freshly made pasta and regional Italian fare at Zecca Handmade Italian, a casual eatery housed in a 1930s Art Deco building. For an Italian treat, head to Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, a family bakery that’s been a Griffith institution since 1952. Or visit Codemo Smallgoods on Mitchell Lane for locally made delicacies, such as southern and northern Italian-style salamis. If you’re visiting in August, don’t miss the Festa delle Salsicce – Griffiths’s festival of the sausage, featuring food, drink and traditional folk music to celebrate the end of the salami making season.
Piccolo Family Farm, Wyangan Credit: Destination NSW
Man enjoying a dining experience at Piccolo Family Farm, Wyangan near Griffith.
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Piccolo Family Farm, Wyangan Credit: Destination NSW
Man enjoying a dining experience at Piccolo Family Farm, Wyangan near Griffith.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, CorowaCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa.
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Feast on the riches of one of Australia’s most important food bowls on a road trip through the Murray, named after the mighty river that flows through this southwest area of New South Wales. Float down the river on a historic paddlesteamer wine cruise, stop by farm gates to sample incredible fresh produce, and dine at chic restaurants and bars in this unique culinary playground.
Take the back roads for gourmet treats
Head off the beaten path along The Backroads Trail, a 250km driving route that passes through the small pastoral towns of Barham, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin on the upper reaches of the Murray River. Sink your teeth into fresh olives, avocados, free-range pork, honey and citrus fruit from farm gates along its loops and trails, and taste the region’s wines at vineyards such as Restdown Wines. While you’re at this winery, venture out along the Restdown Wetland Walk to encounter Aboriginal cooking hearths and an old sheep camp.
Cruise along to The Old School Winery & Meadery in Womboota to pick up wine, pottery and honey mead. Or seek out Ivy Joyce in Barham to indulge in a warm space, offering local produce from farms for a truly paddock to plate experience in the heart of Murray River country. For more snacks and meaty fare such as British-style pork pies and sausages, head to Pacdon Park’s factory shop in Moama.
You can work up an appetite as you build your own itinerary on the theme of food, paddocks and produce, and find suggested routes and maps to Murray River farm gates, at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre.
Wine and dine along the river
Embark on a wine tour by water in Moama, where the first steamboats made their way up the Murray in 1853. Take a Murray River Paddlesteamers Wharf to Winery Cruise from the town to Morrisons Riverview Winery for a leisurely lunch. Or drive along the river, stopping in at Three Black Sheep for risotto and woodfired pizzas, and tasting crisp dry whites and full-flavoured reds at St Anne’s Vineyards, where you can nibble on a cheese platter overlooking a scenic lake.
Head east along the riverside roads to rest and recharge in the town of Tocumwal, known for its riverside beaches, golf courses, glider flying and iconic Big Murray Cod statue. Start the following day with a solid foundation of breakfast pizza (topped with bacon, eggs and a hash brown) at The Old Bank and indulge in a scoop of ice-cream or sorbet from Tocumwal Ice Creamery – flavours include rocky road, green apple or macadamia. If you’re in town on a Saturday, pick up honey, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, dressings and other condiments made by local producers at the Tocumwal Foreshore Markets.
Continue your odyssey along the river to Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation. Immerse in the town’s rich turn-of-the-20th-century colonial heritage as you make your way to the former 1920s flour mill housing Corowa Distilling Co. Here you can book a whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tour and buy locally made chocolates and sweets from sister shop Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. Work off an indulgent afternoon with a walk along the river before settling into the stylish Circa 1936 hotel, which is housed in an Art Deco former bank on the main street of Corowa.
Celebrate regional ingredients in Albury
From Corowa, follow the Riverina Highway eastward to the city of Albury, a food, wine and culture hub. Taste how seasonality and locality are expressed at The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned cafe offering brunch treats such as fruit toast with Beechworth honey and whipped ricotta, and banana waffles with Gundowring vanilla ice-cream. Or try the all-day breakfast offering at Mr Benedict, from cheesy bacon waffle with popcorn chicken to one of its signature eggs benedicts, including one with cider-braised ham hock.
At The River Deck restaurant, local ingredients are celebrated alongside stunning river views, and dishes may include chicken Caesar salad with Milawa eggs or beef brisket braised in coffee by Albury roaster The Brothers Cup. At tiny and elegant Bistro Selle, complement warm Gooramadda olives with a buttery Australian chardonnay and fresh market fish. Yardbird offers a bold-flavoured menu featuring dishes like scorched Albacore tuna, along with meats grilled in a Spanish woodfired oven.
In between meals, stroll along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and take in the contemporary artworks by Aboriginal artists that line the Wagirra Trail. Meander through the Murray Art Museum Albury’s contemporary photographic collection, Aboriginal art and works by renowned Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale. Afterwards, order lunch or dinner at the museum’s excellent Canvas Eatery – try the saltbush lamb rump or one of their Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
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The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
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Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
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Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.