Party in the park

Premium Tasmanian wines and beers, fresh local ciders, bold Tasmanian spirits, and an ever-changing landscape of food stalls, on-site entertainment and culinary events. That's been the Festivale recipe for success over recent years, and event organisers say 2020 will be no exception at Launceston's renowned 'party in the park' this weekend.

In fact, judging by the number and quality of stall offerings this year, there'll be so much to take in that fervent Festivale goers will be making a beeline to the City Park venue on each of the event's three days.

The family-friendly, smoke-free extravaganza is staged annually in the north of the State. This year's Festivale begins on Friday 29 January at 4.00pm and runs until 11.00pm that day. A busy 12-hour program commences at 11.00am on Saturday 1 February. Meanwhile, Sunday 2 February sees the event settle gently into wind down mode from 10.00am, with 4.00pm being the appointed time for all visitors to leave the park venue.

Adult (15+ years) entry costs $25 per person on Friday, $30 on Saturday, and $15 per person on Sunday. There is no charge for children under 12 who are accompanied by an adult. Adolescent (10-14 years) entry costs $7.50 each day. Adult 3-day tickets are available and can be purchased for $55 per person.

Like Hobart's Taste of Tasmania, held in late December and early January, Festivale has come a long way from humble beginnings. It began way back in 1988 as part of Launceston's contribution to the Australian Bicentenary celebrations. The first seven of Festivale's annual events were held in the city's central business district, and were promoted as big multi-cultural street parties.

The move to Launceston's picturesque City Park in 1995 proved to be the making of Festivale as we know it today. The three-day event now draws almost 30,000 patrons to its celebration of Tasmania's summer lifestyle.

Fancy tasting some of this State's best sparkling, whites and reds? Be prepared for an eclectic mix. Festivale's website lists more than 160 different wines from Tasmania's cool climate vineyards, along with a small number of fruit wines and around 60 different non-alcoholic beverages.

Not surprisingly, producers from the north and north-west of the State will be in relative abundance. But navigate your way carefully through the event's meandering trail of stallholders and you may discover wines with more far-flung origins. Producers from the East Coast are particularly well represented, with Boomer Creek, Bream Creek, Gala Estate and Spring Vale all plying their trade this weekend. Each one will be able to pour you a significant medal-winner from the recent Tasmanian Wine Show.

Drop by any one of two dozen or so stalls with wines for sale and there's a good chance the hands that offer that glass of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir grew the grapes and made the wine as well. 

You'll find all of the State's major wine grape varieties featured on labels around the park, as well as a handful interesting minor varieties like Chardonnay Musqué (stall 74), Frontignac (stall 33) and Schönburger (stalls 12 and 125).

Lovers of white wines that are gentle on the palate will have plenty of choice, with Riesling producers being able to pour a diverse range of styles. You'll find good examples of off-dry, medium-sweet, sweet, and luscious (botrytis-affected) wines, not to mention more typical dry wines in conventional table wine and sparkling wine formats. 

By all means, read the label fine print. Even better, strike up a conversation with the stallholder and request a small taste. They'll want you to enjoy your Festivale experiences.

Quiet Mutiny (stalls 44, 45) and Sharmans (stall 49) now figure among the small but ardent band of Tasmanian producers with Shiraz (aka Syrah) to offer cellar door clients. Meanwhile, at stall 72, Velo will be pouring that uniquely Australian red wine blend, a Cabernet Shiraz.

Make some enquiries as you move about the venue. Wines from small scale producers will soon be unavailable or in short supply at your local city or suburban retail outlet, especially those that have left good impressions on wine media and show judges. Most can be bought by the glass as well as by the bottle. Buying by the glass is a good way of sampling a range of some of the best wines the State has to offer.

Festivale wouldn't be Festivale without its food and beverage masterclasses and its bevy of guest chefs demonstrating their culinary artistry. Joining talented Tasmanian chefs Elliot Chugg, Nick Raitt, Emma Warren, Adam Lockhart and Thomas Pirker this year will be celebrity chef Karen Martini. The renowned restaurateur, author and television presenter is back by popular demand following her very successful appearances in 2018.

Headline acts live on stage include Motor Ace and Eskimo Joe (Friday); Jack Jones and Vanessa Amorosi (Saturday); The Whitlams and Russell Morris (Sunday).

Now that's a party in a park.

First published online 31 January 2020: tasmaniantimes.com