Festivalé wining and dining (Day 2) | Launceston, Tasmania

After a Saturday spent gorging on the very best food that Tasmania had to offer, Sunday morning found us bright eyed, bushy tailed, and just as hungry as ever!

10:30am wine tasting? I don’t see why not, particularly when it’s the six best wines from Festivalé and hosted by none other than Winsor Dobbin, Vintage Tasmania’s Curly Haslam-Coates and James Welsh (sommelier at Stillwater and Black Cow restaurants)!

Best of the Best - Wine Tasting

Best of the Best – Wine Tasting

Best of the Best - Wine Tasting

Best of the Best – Wine Tasting

Our expert panel for the morning's tastings

Our expert panel for the morning’s tastings

Winsor Dobbin trying in vain to turn water into wine

Winsor Dobbin trying in vain to turn water into wine

Two very happy winery owners from Hillwood, tasting their own award winning botrytis dessert wine amongst the other winners

Two very happy vignerons from Hillwood Winery, tasting their own award winning botrytis dessert wine amongst the other winners

A great selection of very worthy winners, made all the more special by the passionate and informative commentary provided by the expert panel.

Along with the dry weather came the crowds

Along with the dry weather came the crowds

A lot busier today!

A lot busier, and sunnier today!

Taking time out

Taking time out

Dish 1: Braised venison dumpling from Terrace Restaurant (Country Club) - Not a bad dish at all. Extremely tender venison inside, with nice crunch to the fried dumpling casing.

Dish 1: Braised venison dumpling from Terrace Restaurant (Country Club) – Not a bad dish at all. Extremely tender venison inside, with nice crunch to the fried dumpling casing.

Dish 2: Trifle from Mt Gnomon - For a takeaway, mass produced dessert, this was a surprisingly complex trifle!

Dish 2: Trifle from Josef Chromy – For a takeaway, mass produced dessert, this was a surprisingly complex and delicious trifle!

Clover Hill - My favourite Festivale stall

Clover Hill – My favourite Festivale stall

Dish 3: Poached oyster wrapped in beef tataki from Clover Hill - A sensational dish. Perfectly prepared and perfectly suited to the sunny summer's day! My favourite Festivale dish.

Dish 3: Poached oyster wrapped in Cape Grim beef tataki from Clover Hill – A sensational dish. Perfectly prepared and perfectly suited to the sunny summer’s day! My favourite Festivale dish.

Dish 4: Char grilled octopus with basil pesto from Clover Hill - Always a crowd pleaser, this was also an extremely good dish.

Dish 4: Char grilled octopus with basil pesto from Clover Hill – Always a crowd pleaser, this was also an extremely good dish. Second best perhaps?

The view from our picnic blanket

The view from our picnic blanket

Dish 5: Tempura oyster tasting plate from Festival Mushrooms - Also a crowd favourite, and while it was decent, I don't understand the hype.

Dish 5: Tempura oyster tasting plate from Festival Mushrooms – Also a crowd favourite, and while it was decent, I don’t understand the hype.

Happy days!

Happy days!

Dish 6: 'The Huon' (Tongola goat's cheese, tomatoes, potatoes, onion, rocket and Tasmanian honey) flammkuchen from Flame Cake - Another very tasty slice of heaven!

Dish 6: ‘The Huon’ (Tongola goat’s cheese, tomatoes, potatoes, onion, rocket and Tasmanian honey) flammkuchen from Flame Cake – Another very tasty slice of heaven!

We tried the vegetarian dumplings from Momo the day before. Very light, and full of flavour!

We tried the vegetarian dumplings from Momo the day before. Very light, and full of flavour!

Dish 7: Farmer's Plate from Wursthaus - Scotch egg, pork pie, scrumptious fried black pudding (seriously!), pickled onion and cheese

Dish 7: Farmer’s Plate from Wursthaus – Scotch egg, pork pie, scrumptious fried black pudding (seriously!), pickled onion and cheese

Dish 8: Desserts from Something Sweet - That rocky road was amazing!

Dish 8: Desserts from Something Sweet – That choc cherry fudge was amazing!

Plenty of undercover areas

Plenty of undercover areas

Ladeling the chocolate sauce onto our churros at Tio RIco

Ladeling the chocolate sauce onto our churros at Tio RIco

Dish 9: Churros and sangria from Tio Rico - The churros were a great way to finish Festivale...the sangria, less so.

Dish 9: Churros and sangria from Tio Rico – The churros were a great way to finish Festivale…the sangria, less so.

After two days of feasting and guzzling, this is what you get…

Such an awesome two days. I’m sure we’ll be back again to enjoy the happy vibe and delicious produce on offer!

Did you get along to Festivalé 2015? If so, let us know what you thought!