Returning for its 23rd year, the annual Bickley Harvest Festival celebrates the end of the Harvest with a full program of events hosted at boutique cellar doors in gorgeous Bickley Valley.
Held the first weekend of May (May 1 - 2), the Bickley Harvest Festival offers the perfect opportunity to come and experience the beautiful region and rich local wine and produce that comes out of the region.
Considered one of WA's hidden treasures, Bickley Valley is located in the heart of the Perth Hills just a 35minute drive out of the CBD. Set against a backdrop of the Darling Ranges, Bickley is home to boutique cellar doors, wineries and cideries that are scattered amongst the rolling hills. Many of these are family-owned and operated by progressive wine makers making some incredible and adventurous wines.
In 2021 there are 19 festival venues specialising in fine wine, cider, gin, fine cuisine, gourmet produce, and art. Check out some of the venues participating at this year's Bickley Harvest Festival and get planning your weekend escape! You can visit their website to download this year's festival map here.
Core Cider
Soak up the views over lunch in Core Cider's Orchard Bistro and enjoy a two or three course set menu. Or, if you're after a more casual affair, you can bring a picnic rug and relax on The Green with pizza and cider as the kids enjoy the nature playground. Core Cider will be running their
Apple Picking Orchard Tours over the weekend, where you can hop onboard the Apple Express for a tractor ride through the orchard and stop to pick some apples as you learn about the harvest. Core Cider will be open from 10am - 5pm, with live music playing from 12pm - 4pm each day. Bookings are essential, and can be made
here.
Packing Shed at Lawnbrook
With extended hours for the weekend,
The Packing Shed at Lawnbrook are offering a menu of light bites and gourmet cheese platters along with a range of homemade cakes, coffee and tea. Grab a table or bring a blanket and relax on the expansive lawn area whilst enjoying the surrounds of the valley. Don't forget to enjoy a tasting of their estate grown wines and take advantage of some of the harvest specials on offer. There'll be live music from 1pm each day, with the venue open from 10am - 4pm.
Myattsfield Winery
There'll be a selection of artisan arts and craft stalls and food vans at Myattsfield over the weekend, plus live music from 12 - 4pm and some activities to keep the kids entertained. Myattsfield Winery will also be running their annual Muscular Dystrophy WA Scarecrow Competition, so make sure you bring your a-game to raise funds for a very important cause.
Hainault Vineyard & Mistelle Restaurant
The highest commercial vineyard in Western Australia, enjoy sweeping views across the national park as you sample Hainault's award-winning wines, including crowd favourites, the Sparkling Pinot Noir and fortified Cabernet. Listen to some live music as you tuck into a vegetarian or vegan platter on the lawn. Note that platters need to be pre-ordered by Wednesday April 28 and can be made
here. Their on-site restaurant Mistelle offers a taste of France in the hills and will be serving a delicious three-course lunch across the weekend. They'll also be hosting a long table dinner on Saturday evening which you will need to
book for. New to the festival this year is their French Quarter, offering house-made charcuterie and desserts, served overlooking the vineyard and paired with Hainault wines, craft beers and ciders.
Carmel Cider Co
Experience Carmel Cider's fantastic ciders at The Shed. You can choose from either a sweet or dry tasting paddle throughout the weekend of the festival, with pre-orders and group bookings welcome. While you are there, make sure you explore the picturesque orchard - you are welcome to bring your own picnic and settle down for lunch beneath the apple trees!
Aldersyde Estate
A small family winery established in 1974,
Aldersyde Estate was one of the first wineries to be established in the Perth Hills and specialises in red wines crafted from hand-picked grapes. Over the course of the weekend, you can enjoy a tasting in their heritage packing shed, and learn about the estate's history and the winemaking processes used.
Fairbrossen
Home to Fairbrossen Wines and Side Project Wines, enjoy a free wine tasting and new wine releases at the charming Fairbrossen estate. There'll be new wine releases and specials running throughout the weekend, with gourmet platters available to accompany your wine tasting experience. It is recommended you book your platter service in advance to avoid missing out, and if you're bringing a larger group (10 or more) bookings are essential.
Book here.
Plume Estate Vineyard
Perched on the side of a hill with beautiful views across the vines, Plume Estate invite you to enjoy their wines with a wood-fired pizza or vineyard hamper in their pergola area. Look out for their new release Durif or their Reserve Shiraz Viognier. Book your spot
here.
Brookside Vineyard & Vineyard Kitchen
As the smallest and one of the prettiest vineyards in the Valley, Brookside invites you to come and explore the beautiful gardens set alongside the Piesse Brook. Relax over a leisurely three-course lunch at The Vineyard Kitchen or drop in and enjoy tapas or a cheese board. With wine tasting, stalls and live music on offer, it's a must-visit when planning out your festival itinerary. Book for lunch
here.
Tonon Vineyard
Head to Tonon's cellar door for a relaxed, seated wine tasting where you'll be able to sample a range of estate-grown, single vineyard wines. Sessions will be running at 10am, 12noon and 2pm on Saturday & Sunday and your ticket includes tastings of six wines (including a special new release wine) and a Bickley Harvest Festival tasting glass that is yours to keep. If that doesn't entice you, you'll also go into the draw to win a limited edition magnum (1.5litre) of Tonon's signature Seven Sticks Prosecco.
Rustyroo
Producing a range of locally hand-crafted rustic metal art, drop into
Rustyroo's studio over the Harvest Festival period and check out their new range of creations, which make for a funky and out-of-the-box Mother's Day gift. You'll be able to meet with and have a chat with the artist, who uses entirely Australian materials.
La Fattoria
Having farmed the land since 1945, the La Fattoria family are celebrating the end of the harvest with their Autumn Nonna's Family Table dinner, a long-table sit down dinner paired with their wines. Make sure you book your spot
here so you don't miss out. They'll also be offering their Pick-a-Platter experience, where you can enjoy a glass of their wine of cider overlooking the vines in their outdoor space.
New Leaf Gallery
A family company passionate about salvaging and giving new life to timber, New Leaf Gallery offer a wide range of raw boards, beams and slabs, and create bespoke pieces made to order. With a focus on bringing out the unique characteristics of the wood, they use quality joinery techniques and craftsmanship to ensure each piece can be enjoyed for many generations. They'll be open from 10am - 5pm for you to come and check out their stunning handiwork.
Grower Direct – Quality Citrus
Owners Lou and Marisa invite you to their fruit and vegetable shed, where you can pick up an assortment of grower direct produce, including in-season fruit and veggies, honey, free range eggs, plus an assortment of olive oil, pasta and sauces. Drop in as you head up the hill to pick up a map of the region and grab some of their delicious cloud apple or pear juice on your way.
HHH Distil
A new addition to the Bickley Valley, HHH Distil offers a range of on-site distilled gin and will be open for tastings from 10am - 5pm. For budding distillers out there, they also offer a range of distillation equipment including copper boilers, distillation columns condensers, parrots, bends and reducers.
Bickley Valley Fresh
Run by 3rd generation farmer Frank, Bickley Valley Fresh offers a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, honey, free range eggs, cold pressed apple juice, Zia’s biscotti, cannoli, jams and preserves. They will be open on Saturday from 8.30am - 5pm and on Sunday from 8.30am - 4pm.
Carldenn Winery
Carldenn Winery make wines in a classic European style, with dominant fruit flavours and soft acids. Make sure you try their new release rosé as winemaker Dennis chats to you about Carldenn's wine range. If you are a group of 10 or more, it is advised that you book ahead by
contacting Dennis.
Ashley Estate
An exclusive producer of Pinot Noir, Ashley Estate invite you to come and check out the six vintages currently on offer and see if you can taste the difference between the years. Ashley Estate is run by the Giles family, who have a long history in farming and the Australian wine industry, with pioneer William Giles the first to bring grapes, olives and oranges to South Australia. Ashley Estate's cellar door will be open from 10am - 5pm.
Bean2Brook
Nestled in the heart of Pickering Brook, Bean2Brook cafe will be serving up breakfast and lunch, with a drive-through service for those who are on the go. Note that they are only open on the Saturday of the festival weekend.
Discover the Bickley-Carmel Wine Region
[widget-v2-html]data-prop-widget-view=grid data-prop-widget-mode=discover data-prop-region=bickley-valley data-prop-type=wineries [/widget-v2-html]