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The local buys you need for the ultimate summer BBQ in Victoria

Freya Herring

The season for delicious Backyard barbecues.
The season for delicious Backyard barbecues. Getty.

This is sponsored content for Visit Victoria

It is the season for delicious backyard barbecues. We've rounded up the top Victorian businesses selling their wares online, so you can support your state's artisan producers while you socialise around the grill.

Beer from Phillip Island Brewing Co

Want to be the person who brings the on-trend beers to the barbecue?

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Enter Phillip Island Brewing Co. Not only do they use native Australian fruit and plants in their beers, but they even make a beer with chicory, which has been farmed on Phillip Island for a century and a half.

Wine from Gippsland Wine Company

Gippsland Wine Company's bottles may be the prettiest bottles you ever did see, but don't just take them at face value: it's what's inside the bottle that counts, and these wines do not disappoint.

The 2018 Gewürztraminer is the ideal partner to anything spicy you've thrown on the coals, thanks to its notes of frangipani and lychee – imagine that with a side of Thai-spiced prawns.

In contrast, thanks to its clever combo of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Pinot Noir, the 2019 Gustoso sings of juicy blackberry and smoky tobacco, which matches beautifully with charred barbecued meat.

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That'll take your sausage sizzle up a notch.

Cold brews from St. Ali

Nobody wants to serve up bad coffee, but you also don't want to be stuck in the kitchen for an hour playing barista.

Melbourne coffee roastery St. Ali has the solution. Established in 2005 and taken over by Salvatore Malatesta in 2008, St. Ali has become an institution known for its aesthetic and world-class coffee.

Order a box of their cold brews online, then just pop them in your fridge before folk arrive, bring them out at the end, and enjoy the day without having to wrestle with a milk foamer.

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Timboon Fine Ice Cream at Victorian Country Market

Victorian Country Market is a digital market experience where you can access artisan produce without even leaving your home.

A case in point is Timboon Fine Ice Cream. Tim Marwood and Caroline Simmons have been making ice cream seven kilometres outside of Timboon for two decades, using rich cream from Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory and fresh milk from the Doolan's family farm just down the road.

Think flavours like refreshing mint choc chip, creamy vanilla, spiced maple and cinnamon and, of course, because it is 2020: salted caramel.

Whip out a couple of tubs of this at end of your next barbecue and pause for applause.

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Ice Magic from Piccolina

It wouldn't be summer without Ice Magic. In fact, it might not even be Australia without Ice Magic.

We all pretend it is for kids, but you'd be hard pushed to find someone not entertained by watching chocolate sauce going hard on ice cream. It's a majestic form of alchemy.

But what isn't so great is the synthetic additive, which feature in the most popular brand of the sauce.

The house-made Ice Magic from Melbourne gelateria Piccolina, however, contains no nasties: just 100 per cent natural ingredients. And any iced dessert would be lucky to make its acquaintance.

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Pre-prepared barbecue via takeaway

Last but not least: the main meal itself.

We're all for you cooking up your own barbecue, but sometimes life gets in the way. When that happens, there are a number of restaurants doing the hard work for you, so all you need to do is finish the job once people start to arrive.

Collingwood's Le Bon Ton offers Finish at Home packs full of produce like grain-fed Riverina angus beef brisket, smoked sausages and mac and cheese.

Over at Dexter in Preston, you might find pulled pork shoulder one week, and premium striploin with bone marrow mash the next.

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Put down your tongs: your work here is done.

Support the businesses you know and love, and explore some new products and experiences to enjoy at home. It's all about buying local and embracing Victorian. Head to https://www.visitvictoria.com/clickforvic

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