TODAY sees the launch of the Hampshire Food Festival – a month long feast of flavoursome events.

There are more than 75 events ranging from farm and vineyard tours, jam and chocolate making classes, cooking demonstrations and picnics.

Festival events are listed in a free programme available to pick up from local Waitrose and Southern Co-operative stores, pubs, farm shops, hotels and restaurants.

Mike Wright, chairman of Hampshire Fare which organises the festival, said: “There is something for all ages and all tastes and we really encourage people to get out there and discover the delicious food and drink on our doorstep.

"The much loved and popular Hampshire Food Festival has won multiple awards and is now in its 15th year, let’s keep it going for another 15 years and beyond.”

Hampshire Fare commercial manager Tracy Nash said: “It’s about celebrating Hampshire as a vast county of interest that has the thread of good quality food and drink running through it.

“It’s the biggest food festival in a county, in the whole of the UK, and it’s almost too big but we work really hard to work with people. We’ve had so much involvement with members wanting to do something.”

Pop-up dining experiences are a feature of this year’s festival.

There will be an exclusive pop-up restaurant evenings at Packridge Farm near Romsey on July 16 and 18 when T.A.S.T.E dining company will serve a menu of Hampshire ingredients and wines.

Pop-up specialists Savage Kitchen will appear at Cottonworth Vineyard on Saturday, July 25. Diners can tour the vineyard before sitting down to feast wine tasting.

During the first week of the festival visitors to any one of 15 participating Fullers pubs in the county will be able to buy one main meal and a get a second for free.

On Friday (July 3) there’s a chance to visit the water buffaloes and a wild trout stream at Manor Farm Broughton, from 6pm. This is a free event but booking is essential.

Hampshire’s leading chefs will be at Sparsholt College on Saturday (July 4) for a taste of Hampshire event.

On the menu are Andy Mackenzie and Olly Rouse of Lainston House, Luke Matthew of Chewton Glen, Damian Brown of Chesil Rectory, James Golding of The Pig, Phil Yeomans of Marwell Hotel and Mark Price of River Canteen.

Look out for reports and previews of events at dailyecho.co.uk and day by day listing of what’s on offer.