A whole cruisy two days in the springtime among new blooms and tucked away wineries is as hard as it’s going to get at Canberra’s Wine, Roses and all that Jazz Festival this November 1 and 2.

Winemakers are opening their cellar doors and inviting all inside to show off and share their new and classic wines, developed in the cooler climate’s rolling hills.

Most wineries will also be holding fresh produce-infused lunches, or platters of melt-in-your-mouth cheese, homely pies, rich mud cake, warm scones and even NZ Green Lip mussels in a garlic and white wine, cream sauce.

Oozingly smooth jazz artists – including the Chris Mawer Band, and Alopi and the Palermo Express Trio – will be performing at most cellars while you take pleasure in dining at restaurants like award-winning Smokehouse Cafe at Poachers Pantry, Grapefoodwine at the Lake George Winery or at Lambert Vineyards for a five-course dinner.

Or if you’d rather pack your own basket, then you’ll easily find a comfortable patch of lawn to picnic on while staring starry-eyed into the melancholy distance.

Enjoy the wide variety of wine flavours that Canberra is now home to, from delicate oaky undertones (Try McKellar Ridge’s 2008 Chardonnay while viewing watercolour paintings from France) to the warming vivid spice and cherry character of a hearty Shiraz (try much-vaunted Clonakilla’s new O’Riada shiraz).

To wander through the winding rose gardens and some 140 vineyards with 33 original and intimate wineries, you’ll only have to drive for about half an hour from the Canberra CBD. But if you’d like to make an escape of it, check in your bags at a nearby B&B and soak up all Canberra’s charm when jazz meets wine in springtime.

Check out www.visitcanberra.com.au for more info.