It's the highest number of foodie stalls in the history of the markets, showcasing the best fresh food, street food, drinks and pantry items from the Canberra region and around Australia.

"It's always worth it to brave the winter chill for a day out at Handmade" says market founder and owner Julie Nichols. "The market is all indoors and heated, so along with the amazing food and great shopping, it's the perfect winter day out, really".

There will be some impressive, brand new food offerings this time around. For those who like it sweet, Choux Patisserie will be bringing their exquisite hand-crafted choux pastries that are like edible works of art; Raw Integrity Chocolates will be premiering their range of handmade, raw, vegan chocolate bars; and Pop Up Poffertjes will be making hot, fresh Dutch pancakes on the spot.

Canberrans can stock their gourmet pantries with a range of spice mixes, pastes, vinegars, and oils from the likes of Josh & Sue Gourmet Selection, Chunky Dave's Peanut Butter, and Cider Tonic handcrafted apple cider vinegar.

The bar area will feature a range of wines from the Canberra region and beyond. Tulloch wines will have their market debut, bringing a piece of the Hunter Valley to Canberra, and Original Spirit Co will be offering unique gin fusions such as their Country Rhubarb with Ginger Ginfusion mix. Perfect for chilly winter days, there will be a range of hand-blended teas from Tea Totaler, and spiced, sweet, comforting chai blends from Real Chai.

East Hotel has partnered with Canberra's own Balzanelli Smallgoods and Dal Zotto wines from Victoria to create a tantalising Italian weekend.

The three days of bellissimo Italiano begin on Friday, June 28, with a Dal Zotto wine tasting accompanied by delicious Agostinis' pizza by the open fire in the lobby.

Then on Saturday East is presenting a Dal Zotto Wine Dinner - a spectacular four-course Italian dinner with matching wines and an opportunity to meet the winemaker.

On Sunday, Marco Balzanelli is hosting a salami making demonstration and long lunch featuring Balzanelli Smallgoods and Dal Zotto wines.

"The idea came about after our food and beverage operations manager, Danilo Acioli, travelled down to the King Valley last year to experience Dal Zotto's prosecco and salami making over a weekend and loved it," said East Hotel co-manager Dion Bisa.

"As there was nothing like this in Canberra, Danilo chatted to the Dal Zotto brothers about creating a similar weekend experience here in Canberra.

"This, combined with the increasing interest in Canberra around prosecco, aperol spritzes, Italian food and cured meats, the idea of creating our own Italian weekend seemed like a fun thing to bring to fruition."

Guests can create their own experience by combining all or any of the events.

June 28: Wine tasting and pizzas to share, hotel lobby, 6-8pm, $25pp.

June 29: Wine dinner, 6 for 6.30pm, hotel lobby, four-course Italian dinner with matching wines and meet the winemaker, $120pp, limited seats

June 30: Salami making demonstration, noon, Agostinis, with long lunch featuring Balzanelli smallgoods and Dal Zotto drinks menu, $55pp with prosecco on arrival, limited seats.

Guests can choose to attend all events plus two nights in an East Apartment for $725, including late check-out and parking, or they can create their own Italian experience with discounts for multiple events. Group rates and accommodation deals also available.

Lester and Adrienne Jesberg have been running wine courses for more than 30 years and the secret to their success lies in helping people understand why they prefer certain wines over others.

There's nothing wine snobbish about these courses, they recognise people like what they like and the aim is to help you find out why.

You'll get to taste more than 70 wines, as you discuss palate structure, wine faults, the flavours imparted by the major grape varieties, cellaring and serving, among other things.

The Jesbergs are very experienced in conducting wine courses for both amateurs and professionals. They've written about wine for more than 30 years, and taste thousands of different wines both in Australia and overseas in the course of their business each year. Lester has judged at many wine shows including the National Wine Show, the Hobart Wine Show, Sydney Wine Show and the Adelaide Wine Show. He has chaired the New South Wales Wine Awards, Riverina Wine Show and the Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition, and continues to be a regular on the judging circuit.

The latest course runs across six Monday nights, from July 1 to August 8, at University House, ANU, and places are still available. Cost is $390pp, includes all wine and glasses are provided.

Do you have anything for Morsels? Email food.wine@canberratimes.com.au