Victoria’s longest-running wine festival, Winery Walkabout, returns on 9 and 10 June to showcase the best of North-East Victoria’s celebrated wine and produce.
For more than 40 years, the annual walkabout feast has attracted wine lovers to the Rutherglen region over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. The 2018 event will feature 19 Rutherglen wineries with something to taste, sip and savour behind every cellar door. Over two days, food and wine enthusiasts will have the chance to discover some of the region’s stand-out wines, including Rutherglen Muscat and Rutherglen Durif.
Wine lovers with a thirst for knowledge will be delighted by the wide variety of learning opportunities including back-vintage tastings, behind-the-scenes winery tours, and varietal masterclass experiences.
Warming winter eats will be on offer at wineries across the region. Must-try dishes over the weekend include:
- Mexican street food (All Saints Estate)
- Farm-grown duck sausages (Jones Winery & Vineyard)
- ‘Low and slow’ barbecue brisket (Warrabilla Wines)
- Dutch pancakes (Campbells Wines).
Rutherglen’s iconic wine varietals will also be re-imagined in sweet treats including:
- Rutherglen Muscat affogato (Andrew Buller Wines)
- Rutherglen Durif chocolate cupcakes (Lake Moodemere Estate).
Festivities will carry on throughout the region with the Rutherglen Rotary Country Fair taking place on Sunday 10 June, 9am–3pm. Stroll along High Street, Rutherglen and grab a bargain from more than 300 market stalls, or get amongst the carnival atmosphere with live music and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Early-bird Winery Walkabout tickets start from $45 per person for both days. Festival tickets include access to each of the 19 wineries. Designated drivers will receive complimentary festival entrance and two tea/coffee/soft drink vouchers provided by event sponsors TAC.
Visitors can explore the region with ease. Be chauffeured from one cellar door to the next by TAC winery shuttle buses (at an additional cost) or hop on a bus from several nearby regional cities (at an additional cost).
Dates: Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June 2018 (Queen’s Birthday long weekend)
Time: 10am–4pm daily
Purchase tickets: www.winerywalkabout.com.au
View the full programme: www.winerywalkabout.com.au/event-guide
