Some of the country’s finest truffle growers from the Southern Highlands to the Snowy Mountains will converge in Berrima this August for a new fungi festival called Viva La Truffle.

Eastern Australian truffles are considered some of the best in the world, with the cooler climate and conditions comparable to some of Europe’s most famous truffle regions. In fact, Australia’s largest-ever truffle was unearthed in the Southern Highlands, weighing in at 1.172kg, just shy of the world’s record at 1.3kg.

Held at The Loch in Berrima from August 14-15, the two-day event will celebrate the magnificent tuber melanosporum with a dedicated truffle marketplace, chef and grower workshops, truffle trails and an exciting line-up of truffle dishes to try.

Make sure you bring your tote bag along. A dedicated truffle marketplace will sell fresh truffle as well as truffle-infused products like olive oil, eggs, whiskey, and artisan cheese, with growers on hand to show you how to use them at home. Don’t leave without trying the Truffle Gin created by local producer Redwood Park especially for the festival.

“The Viva La Truffle weekend is about giving people an experience of the wonderfully intense aroma of the truffles we grow in this very special part of the world, and getting to know the growers so that they feel inspired to explore the truffle trail for themselves,” Eat Truffle President and truffle grower, Dick Groot Obbink of Durran Durra Truffles said.

For a true truffle adventure, hop in the car and head on the Truffle Trail, which is a self-driving tour of all the best truffieres in the region.

The festival will finish on a high note with the Viva La Truffle dinner held at the Barn Room of the Loch estate, with a feast prepared by celebrity chef ‘Fast Ed’ (Ed Halmagyi).  The five-course dinner will showcase a different truffle producer in every dish, complemented by local wines from family-run vineyards in the area.

For more details on Viva La Truffle or to purchase tickets, head to vivalatruffle.com.au.