Boyle: Support Tropical North food and wine producers this Christmas
Published Friday, 12 December, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Tropical North Queensland locals are encouraged to take advantage of their proximity to some of Queensland’s finest food and wines this Christmas.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said the festive season was the perfect excuse to visit local food and wine producers and stock up on goodies for Christmas and New Year.
“North Queensland is the ideal place to find gifts for Christmas, or simply to stock up your pantry for the festive season,” Ms Boyle said.
“With a range of cellar doors and food producers to choose from, a visit to Cairns and the surrounding areas provides a unique day or weekend trip, while allowing people to complete their Christmas shopping.”
Ms Boyle said in the current economic climate it was important to support Queensland businesses, and buying locally was a good way to do that while indulging in a variety of fruit wines, cheeses and coffee.
“Far North Queensland has so much to offer. It makes sense for people to explore what is available in their own backyard,” she said.
“The natural surroundings also provide a welcome change to the bustle of crowded shopping centres at Christmas time.”
The Queensland Government is also launching the redeveloped Australian Tropical Foods website which showcases the unique produce of Tropical North Queensland.
Ms Boyle today (Friday 12 December) launched the website at Ochre Restaurant.
She said the revamped Australian Tropical Foods website provided plenty of information about tropical produce and tips on how to prepare it.
“This website contains everything you need to know about tropical foods,” she said.
“It even provides a number of recipe ideas from Ochre Restaurant chef Craig Squire for example scallops with pineapple salsa.
“With seafood increasingly popular for the Christmas table, this site will be a handy tool for people looking to make something special over the festive season. “
Other recipes, including Craig’s lemon myrtle panacotta and prawn salad can be found on the Australian Tropical Foods website at www.australiantropicalfoods.com
The Minister added that the Queensland Government supported local winemakers and food manufacturers through workshops, grants and assistance with displays at exhibitions and trade shows.
This year the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry released the revised Wine and Food Map of Queensland which showcases a number of wineries and boutique food producers across the state.
Located at Silkwood East, Murdering Point Winery produces award winning fruit wines in native flavours such as Lemon Aspen and Davidson’s Plum. A popular attraction along the Great Tropical Drive, visitors can purchase a range of fruit wines and ports in a variety of exotic and traditional flavours. The cellar door is open seven days a week from 9.30am to 5pm. Visit the website at www.murderingpointwinery.com.au
Also on the map is Skybury Coffee at Mareeba. Australia’s oldest coffee plantation, it’s now home to The Australian Coffee Centre which features a restaurant, licensed bar, coffee laboratory, gift shop and Coffee Cinema where visitors can learn more about the company’s history. Tours of the plantation are available five times daily and the Australian Coffee Centre is open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week or visit the shop online at www.skybury.com.au
Other Far North Queensland cellar doors featuring in the Food and Wine Map of Queensland include:
• Cairns Tropical Wines www.cairnsunlimited.com/cairnstropicalwines.htm
• de Brueys Boutique Wines www.debrueys.com.au
• Dream Time Wines sales@dreamtimewines.com
• Golden Drop Winery www.goldendrop.com.au
• Pacific Blue www.pacificbluewinery.com
• Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery www.shannonvalewine.com.au
• Wild Mountain Cellars enquiries@wildmountain.com.au
The following wineries provide a mail order only service:
• Endeavour Valley Winery www.hirschwines.com.au
• Moonlite Wine www.moonlitewine.com.au
Details of boutique food producers The Coffee Works, Gallo Dairlyland, Jaques Coffee, Tichum Creek Coffee Farm and Mungalli Creek Dairy and Out of the Whey Biodynamic Cheesery and Teahouse are also included.
For more information about local wineries, contact the tourist information centre at Cairns on 4051 3588.
To obtain a copy of the Wine and Food Map of Queensland, visit the HEMA Maps website at www.hemamaps.com.au
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
12 December 2008
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said the festive season was the perfect excuse to visit local food and wine producers and stock up on goodies for Christmas and New Year.
“North Queensland is the ideal place to find gifts for Christmas, or simply to stock up your pantry for the festive season,” Ms Boyle said.
“With a range of cellar doors and food producers to choose from, a visit to Cairns and the surrounding areas provides a unique day or weekend trip, while allowing people to complete their Christmas shopping.”
Ms Boyle said in the current economic climate it was important to support Queensland businesses, and buying locally was a good way to do that while indulging in a variety of fruit wines, cheeses and coffee.
“Far North Queensland has so much to offer. It makes sense for people to explore what is available in their own backyard,” she said.
“The natural surroundings also provide a welcome change to the bustle of crowded shopping centres at Christmas time.”
The Queensland Government is also launching the redeveloped Australian Tropical Foods website which showcases the unique produce of Tropical North Queensland.
Ms Boyle today (Friday 12 December) launched the website at Ochre Restaurant.
She said the revamped Australian Tropical Foods website provided plenty of information about tropical produce and tips on how to prepare it.
“This website contains everything you need to know about tropical foods,” she said.
“It even provides a number of recipe ideas from Ochre Restaurant chef Craig Squire for example scallops with pineapple salsa.
“With seafood increasingly popular for the Christmas table, this site will be a handy tool for people looking to make something special over the festive season. “
Other recipes, including Craig’s lemon myrtle panacotta and prawn salad can be found on the Australian Tropical Foods website at www.australiantropicalfoods.com
The Minister added that the Queensland Government supported local winemakers and food manufacturers through workshops, grants and assistance with displays at exhibitions and trade shows.
This year the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry released the revised Wine and Food Map of Queensland which showcases a number of wineries and boutique food producers across the state.
Located at Silkwood East, Murdering Point Winery produces award winning fruit wines in native flavours such as Lemon Aspen and Davidson’s Plum. A popular attraction along the Great Tropical Drive, visitors can purchase a range of fruit wines and ports in a variety of exotic and traditional flavours. The cellar door is open seven days a week from 9.30am to 5pm. Visit the website at www.murderingpointwinery.com.au
Also on the map is Skybury Coffee at Mareeba. Australia’s oldest coffee plantation, it’s now home to The Australian Coffee Centre which features a restaurant, licensed bar, coffee laboratory, gift shop and Coffee Cinema where visitors can learn more about the company’s history. Tours of the plantation are available five times daily and the Australian Coffee Centre is open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week or visit the shop online at www.skybury.com.au
Other Far North Queensland cellar doors featuring in the Food and Wine Map of Queensland include:
• Cairns Tropical Wines www.cairnsunlimited.com/cairnstropicalwines.htm
• de Brueys Boutique Wines www.debrueys.com.au
• Dream Time Wines sales@dreamtimewines.com
• Golden Drop Winery www.goldendrop.com.au
• Pacific Blue www.pacificbluewinery.com
• Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery www.shannonvalewine.com.au
• Wild Mountain Cellars enquiries@wildmountain.com.au
The following wineries provide a mail order only service:
• Endeavour Valley Winery www.hirschwines.com.au
• Moonlite Wine www.moonlitewine.com.au
Details of boutique food producers The Coffee Works, Gallo Dairlyland, Jaques Coffee, Tichum Creek Coffee Farm and Mungalli Creek Dairy and Out of the Whey Biodynamic Cheesery and Teahouse are also included.
For more information about local wineries, contact the tourist information centre at Cairns on 4051 3588.
To obtain a copy of the Wine and Food Map of Queensland, visit the HEMA Maps website at www.hemamaps.com.au
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
12 December 2008