NSW Food and Wine Festival 2014

Now with an even bigger focus on food, The Sydney Morning Herald NSW Food and Wine Festival presented by Citi returns to Sydney and regional NSW in 2014 for its seventh annual event, to celebrate the state's best wine and local produce.

The expanded festival, which this year runs from February 21 to March 21, will offer an exciting mix of new and much-loved food and wine events created in conjunction with growers, winemakers, artisan food producers, chefs, restaurants, sommeliers and bars.

To kick off the festival, the top wineries of NSW head to the city for one of Sydney's favourite events in Hyde Park, Sydney Cellar Door. Taking place from Friday, February 21 through to Sunday February 23, food and wine lovers can sample the best from the state's wine regions at tasting tents, food matching sessions, and an artisan food producers market. Live music will also help to complete a perfect weekend and kick off the festival in spectacular style.

NSW Food and Wine Festival at The Sydney Morning Herald Growers' Market takes place on Saturday, March 1 and places a firm (and mouth watering!) focus on local produce. Making for an idyllic morning by the harbour, the event will feature wine tastings, regional long table food sampling, and celebrity chef cooking demonstrations.

The Tour of the Regions dinners will see hatted restaurants host one-off celebrations and guest appearances by some of the state's top winemakers.

There are also great new events to tantalise the tastebuds. Sparkling Brunches offer a chilled glass of NSW sparkling wine with a beautiful weekend brunch, Hot and New sees The SMH Good Food Guide reviewed restaurants host one-off wine and food matching evenings and restaurants will offer special dishes featuring NSW regional produce for Snacks and Street Food.

At the Spotlight on NSW series, wine producers will host tastings and matchings at some of the state's best restaurants, bars and cafes whereas the 5 x 4 Rising Stars Dinner will allow attendees to peer into the future of NSW food and wine with five young chefs, five producers, five sommeliers and five young winemakers.

Other festival favourites are also back, including Dine with NSW Wine and Sticky and Sweet, where venues prepare one-off dishes and pair with a NSW wine.

Festival director Joanna Savill said: 'We love local and we're thrilled to be able to offer more amazing food-focused and special wine events this year from the state's best. With several out-of-this-world regions to celebrate and hundreds of talented producers and award-winning venues taking part, there's sure to be something for every taste and palate."

The festival marks a successful collaboration between The Sydney Morning Herald and the NSW Wine Industry Association and the Herald's acclaimed Good Food and Good Food Guide brands goodfood.com.au.