Get to know the wine regions of Australia much better by going along to the many annual wine events. Here is just a sample of the good times ahead this year.
Have I missed your event? Drop me a line and let me know all about it.
JANUARY
- LAUNCESTON, TASMANIA: Festivale – Traditionally held in City Park on the first weekend of February each year, Festivale is Tasmania’s premium summer event held across three days. Expect food, beer, wine, spirits, cider and entertainment.
FEBRUARY
- ABBOTSFORD, VICTORIA: The Prosecco Festival – Meet growers, winemakers and importers, and taste some of the best Prosecco available in Australia today. And with over 50 different Proseccos to try, there’s one to suit every palate!
- HOBART, TASMANIA: TAS WINE FEST – This is a premier two-day summer garden party held at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart, featuring over 45 Tasmanian vineyards, 250+ wines, local food pairings and live music.
MARCH
- DENMARK, WA: Denmark Wine Hop – Hop-on, hop-off, taste, repeat. The adventure is laid out for you; you decide the route. The Denmark Wine Hop is your ticket to explore four of the region’s most iconic wineries in one unforgettable day. Settle in for a long lunch or linger over every last sip as you move between Singlefile, The Lake House, Rockcliffe and Forest Hill.
- HARDEN, NSW: Rustica, Emma Sheehan Art Exhibition opening – Showcased in the charming cellar door at Barwang Winery, Emma’s collection draws inspiration from the vibrant foods enjoyed alongside exquisite wines. These artworks intertwine our joy of food with vibrant colours and intricate patterns and take you on a sensory journey that reflects the joy and warmth of shared moments around the table that each of us cherish. Bookings essential. This exhibition is part of the Hilltops Off the Beaten Track Art & Cultural Trail throughout the picturesque Hilltops region.
- MURRINGO, NSW: The Taubman & Webb Trading Post / Trandari Wines Cellar Door – Experience a unique venue that blends heritage and hospitality, offering handcrafted leather goods, local honey, and a cellar door experience with Trandari Wines. It’s a celebration of craftsmanship, community, and country life. 9am to 4pm (weekends only). All part of the Hilltops Off the Beaten Track Art & Cultural Trail throughout the picturesque Hilltops region.
- ORANGE, NSW: Orange FOOD Week – This week brings the very best of the Orange region to life with close to 100 events celebrating chefs, growers, winemakers and the vibrant local hospitality scene.
- RUTHERGLEN, VICTORIA: Tastes of Rutherglen – From bold reds to crisp whites (and everything in between), your perfect pour is waiting at 17 iconic cellar doors – each with its own unique story. Plus, food, entertainment and harvest activities.
- SWAN HILL, VICTORIA: Swan Hill Food & Wine Festival – Expect three days of events, festivities, tastings, entertainment and food- and wine-focused happenings all over town.
- WAHROONGA, NSW: Sparkling Wine and Food Festival – With more than 60 sparkling wines to enjoy, from more than 20 local and international wineries, you’re sure to find your new favourites. Wineries present their entire wine range of reds, whites and rosés with the hero: sparkling!
APRIL
MAY
- ADELAIDE HILLS, SA: Chardonnay May – Celebrate Adelaide Hills Chardonnay all month long! Cellar doors will be showcasing their incredible cool-climate Chardonnays with a range of events and experiences throughout the month.
- BENDIGO, VIC: The Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival – In addition to 80+ wines available for tasting, there is delicious food, fun entertainment, competitions and live music.
- PYRMONT, NSW: The Pyrmont Food and Wine Festival – Anticipate a sensory explosion with over 20 wineries, breweries and distilleries, alongside gourmet food trucks and stands offering a smorgasbord of cuisines.
- THE GRANITE BELT, QLD: Grazing The Granite Belt – One weekend in May each year is the golden opportunity for wine and food enthusiasts to taste their way around Granite Belt Wine Country all on one ticket. This ticket grants unlimited use of the Crisps Coaches shuttles operating on a continuous loop to let you indulge in tastings at boutique cellar doors and graze away on local gourmet produce.
JUNE
- CANBERRA, ACT: The National Wine Festival of Australia – The National Wine Festival of Australia is the only truly national celebration of Australian wine. This year marks the 51 years celebrating the nation’s most prestigious wine awards, the National Wine Show of Australia. The festival spans two days of wine tastings, masterclasses and special events at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra – A Park Hyatt Hotel. Every wine entered in Australia’s most important wine awards will be open for tasting during the festival, including the top trophy winners.
- NOOSA, QLD: Noosa Food & Wine Festival – Indulge your senses across one, or all three, unforgettable event programs.
~ The American Express Festival Village has pop-up restaurants, lounge spaces, a culinary stage and live entertainment.
~ The Signature Events are your invitation to seven unmissable experiences, from long lunches in breathtaking locations to evenings under the stars and beachside sundowners.
~ The Restaurant Series sees Noosa’s latest and greatest venues cooking up four days of worldclass collaborations and intimate culinary experiences.
JULY
- LOVEDALE, NSW: Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival – The festival brings together the region’s best wineries, beer, spirit, cider tastings, fine local food, and entertainment in a family-friendly atmosphere. Held at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley it is staged indoors and outdoors. In between tastings, festival-goers can enjoy entertainment from well-known local musicians, foods from a wide range of providores (including local cheese and other artisan products) and the opportunity to relax in the spacious lawns.
AUGUST
- KATOOMBA, NSW: Wines of the West – This much-loved event brings together outstanding wines from the Blue Mountains and Central West region of NSW, all under one roof. The relaxed festival setting allows guests to meet the winemakers, sample their wines and purchase favourites directly from the cellar door.
SEPTEMBER
- POKOLBIN, NSW: D’Vine Food and Wine Festival – Picture vibrant cellar doors, unforgettable food and wine experiences, live music, sweeping vineyard views and a buzzing festival vibe. The Festival is full of experiences ONLY available one weekend a year!
- POKOLBIN, NSW: AWO – The Finest in Wine, Food & Music @ Brokenwood – Members of the Australian World Orchestra will deliver a handpicked program seamlessly paired with Brokenwood’s award-winning wines and the flavours of The Wood Restaurant. Indulge in canapes and a three-course menu created by acclaimed chef Sean Townsend, celebrating the very best of seasonal produce. This marks the first-ever AWO performance in the Hunter Valley and a truly unmissable moment of magic in wine country.
OCTOBER
- SUBIACO, WA: UnWined Subiaco – Grab your plumm glass on entry and discover over 50 local wineries pouring more than 300 wines, all available to taste and purchase. Beyond the wine, enjoy an incredible selection of WA’s best boutique beer, cider and spirits, plus delicious bites from Perth’s top tapas vendors.
NOVEMBER
- THE GRANITE BELT, QLD: Grazing The Granite Belt – One weekend November each year is the golden opportunity for wine and food enthusiasts to taste their way around Granite Belt Wine Country all on one ticket. This ticket grants unlimited use of the Crisps Coaches shuttles operating on a continuous loop to let you indulge in tastings at boutique cellar doors and graze away on local gourmet produce.