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Press Release
Festival Captures the Essence of Tasmanian Fruit
20 January 2008
A seasonal event, which promotes Tasmania’s wealth of berry and stone fruits is proving a hit with visitors keen to capture their own ‘flavour’ of Tasmania.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Allison Ritchie today officially opened the 2008 Tasmanian Fruit Wine Festival on the Bellerive Boardwalk in Hobart.
“Fruit wine is a growing industry in Tasmania and the current retail value of fruit wine sold in Tasmania is around a half million dollars,” Ms Ritchie said.
Fruit wine is any wine, liqueur or mead, made from plant products that aren’t exclusively grapes.
There are currently 14 commercial fruit wine makers in Tasmania producing a range of wines from fruits including blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, loganberry, apple and elderberry.
The annual festival includes tasting of different fruit wines made in Tasmania and interstate.
“The Tasmanian Fruit Wine Festival began in 1999 and was among the first event of its kind in Australia to promote fruit wine to a wider audience.
“This year’s festival included the Australian Fruit Wine Show, which once again attracted entries from across the nation, keen to get valuable feedback about their products.
“Tasmania’s temperate climate makes it a great place to grow berries and stone fruit.
“Fruit wine made from Tasmanian fruit is popular with visitors to our State, These wines are a tangible taste of our State, and another way that visitors can share their Tasmanian holiday experience with family and friends back home,” Ms Ritchie said.
The Tasmanian Fruit Wine Festival is organised by the Sorell Rotary Club with assistance from the Clarence City Council.
It runs from 1pm until 6pm on the Bellerive Boardwalk and includes fruit wine tasting, food vans, children’s entertainment and live music.