People call Australia the lucky country. And it is, especially when you consider the many places where you can find the finest food and wine, often grown and served in beautiful countryside. It's no accident that many of the best regions for food are also in wine regions. Guess it all just goes together naturally!

The Barossa, South Australia

It's easy to hop in the car and explore this lovely area full of vineyards and small towns. Or you can follow the Barossa Butcher, Baker, Winemaker Trail, see details....

The famous Barossa Farmer's Markets is the place to be every Saturday morning in Vintners Sheds, Angaston. There's everything from puff pastry to potatoes, honey, olives and lamb – plus noisy chatter and music and good cooking smells. You might even bump into Maggie, as she is a frequent shopper there.

Angaston, was settled by Cornish miners and other British settlers joined them later, so it is looked on as a more "English" town. Yet it is not as simple as that. The town is named after George Fife Angas who was responsible for sponsoring many of the original Lutheran emigrants to the area.

Today the town is vibrant and full of weekend visitors. Coffee at the South Australian Company Store is a must and, for a while, you should relax overlooking vineyards before visiting Angas Park Fruit Co where South Australian dried, crystallised and choc-dipped fruits are a decadent temptation.

Where is it? About an hour's drive north-east of Adelaide.

Good place to dine: Appellation at The Louise, Marananga.

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Margaret River, Western Australia

In the past 45 years, since vines were first planted in this region, the land so perfectly suited to wine production now has around 150 wine producers. Cellar doors encourage visitors to stop and dawdle through the area.

And then there's the bread, and cheeses, chocolate, coffee, beer, spirits and much more. Guesthouses are the ideal excuse to stay longer, and the region's many restaurants are ideal places to stay and taste even more.

Where is it? Two to three hour's drive south of Perth.

Good place to dine: Vasse Felix, Cowaramup.

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The Hunter Valley, NSW

One of Australia's earliest wine-growing areas, the Hunter has matured and grown. Its location makes it popular as a day or weekend destination, and the region's wineries and cellar doors as well as hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, cafes and bars make a stay here truly delightful.

The lush and fertile countryside often seems a reminder of France, yet you can just as easily see a kangaroo bounding across the paddocks, too.

Where is it? Two to three hours drive north of Sydney.

Good place to dine: Margan, Broke.

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The Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia

The Fleurieu Peninsula situated to the south of Adelaide is a delightful, fertile wine-land that also produces nuts, olives, berries, venison, dairy products, almonds, honey, farmhouse cheeses and trout. The principal towns are McLaren Vale, Willunga, Goolwa, and Victor Harbor but you can think of it as having three parts: the northern central wine-growing area, the coastal strip, and the southern area.

Where is it? a 45-minute drive south of Adelaide.

Where to dine: Fino, Willunga.

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Orange, NSW

The local community of Orange is vibrant and energetic and most of all in its relation to food and wine. Major events dot the calendar with a food festival in April and Orange Wine Week in October. Despite the town's name, the area is noted for grapes, stone-fruit, nuts and apples - even truffles! There are several top restaurants in town as well as cafes and bars.

Where is it? Three hours' drive west of Sydney.

Where to dine: Racine Restaurant at La Colline, Orange.

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