Tuesday 21 June marked the beginning of truffle season, the Canberra region’s prized underdog for drawing in winter tourism.

The ACT region’s truffle growers, winemakers, restaurants, cafes, cooking schools, farmers’ markets and more are gearing up to celebrate the return of Tuber melanosporum, better known as black winter truffle.

On Monday, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr launched the annual Canberra Region Truffle Festival, which has been running since 2009. “It’s no longer one of Canberra’s best kept secrets,” Mr Barr said.

The signature event of the Festival, presented by DOMA Hotels, will be a multi-course truffle dinner celebrating local food, and expected to attract some 200 guests to Hotel Realm on Friday 1 July.

The packed program includes growing workshops, truffle hunts, food and wine pairings, signature menus, cooking classes and chef demonstrations across the ACT and southern NSW, until the end of truffle season in mid-August.

“It’s very encouraging to see, across all of Canberra, tourism events increasing pace of recovery,” Mr Barr said.

Truffle Festival president, Dick Groot Obbink, seconded the increasing draw of the unique truffle festivities.

“The festival is in its 14th year and has been a huge driver of visitation to Canberra and surrounds,” Mr Groot Obbink said.

Did you know that the Canberra climate is ideal for truffle growing?

“Canberra has a climate, which is very similar to France, Spain, and Italy, where we have hot summers, thunderstorms, and frosty winters.

“The frost is what gives the aroma to the truffles. While truffles are available all over Australia, those grown in the Canberra Region are prized by chefs, providores, and discerning foodies alike,” he said.

Samples of festival treats to come include mouth-watering truffle-infused croque monsieur, croissants, and even sausage rolls.

Mr Groot Obbink said another highlight of this year’s festival would be a competition celebrating the unsung heroes of the season – truffle dogs.

“We felt it was about time we shone a spotlight on the super-sniffers responsible for unearthing the ‘black gold’ enjoyed by truffle festival visitors,” he said.

“We’ve given them their own page on our festival website – a gallery of good boys and girls where visitors can learn about their super skills, and their embarrassing habits, and vote for their favourite dog.”

Voters will be in the running to win 100g of premium black truffle and a pair of tickets to join a truffle hunt.

Check out the full festival program, and vote for your favourite truffle dog at trufflefestival.com.au

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