Truffle and wine festival returns to Manjimup

The Manjimup Truffle and Wine Festival will be returning after making its debut last year. The festival will run from June 23 to 25 with Manjimup, Pemberton, Northcliffe, and Nannup being some of the towns in the area participating, with venues and local producers showcasing the best with events including truffle tours, farm visits, truffle hunts, truffle and wine tastings, gourmet degustation dinners, entertainment and wine masterclasses. The Truffle Guy managing director Fabio Deitos said it had been an incredible effort to get the first Manjimup Truffle and Wine Festival up and running. “There was a lot of motivation and passion from local producers who banded together to help make it a major win for the local community,” he said. “Everyone really got on board and the event managed to achieve a massive audience through various mediums with a low budget.” Manjimup Gateway Hotel owner Paul Fowler said the hotel benefited from participating in last year’s festival. “There were many sold-out events and accommodation providers were fully booked,” he said. “Our hotel even had a special truffle menu for the occasion and we’ll be doing the same this year.” Lady Truffle Fine Foods managing director Debbie Oliver will be one of the many people returning for the Manjimup Truffle and Wine Festival and she’s bringing a few chefs along with her. Ms Oliver said the Manjimup region had local produce that was in demand and prized by chefs and food enthusiasts. “Manjimup is one of the best food bowls in Australia, teeming with marron, chestnut, cherries, every stone fruit imaginable, wonderful wines and, of course, truffles,” she said. “The Manjimup Truffle and Wine Festival is the ultimate paddock-to-plate experience, whether it’s the famed fungi or grapes grown locally for wine production, coming from as close to the source as possible before consumption.” She noted the potential in the area’s local produce and the buzz it brought with attendees coming to the festival. “The area is famous for its tall trees and lush pastures and with plenty of truffles, marron, cherries, grapes and chestnuts on offer, it’s definitely a great place for foodies to explore.” The event is supported by the local business community, Manjimup and Pemberton Chambers of Commerce, Southern Forests Food Council, South West Development Commission, Shire of Manjimup and Tourism WA.