In Regional Victoria
WINERY MARKET WEEKEND
Petanque, Wine and Local Produce Market Weekend
Time to play Petanque, enjoy the fresh air, taste local produce – all with French flair! Market-style atmosphere with wine tasting in the oak barrel room, where you can learn as you sip. Gourmet baguette baskets enjoyed with the coppery pink sparkling wine, Santé! Put this winery in your soul.
When: Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 August, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Where: Dominique Portet Winery, 870 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream
Cost: Free entry (tastings for groups over 10 pax $3.00pp)
Bookings: 03 5962 5760
www.dominiqueportet.com
WINTER WEEKEND OF FOOD AND WINE
There is no better time to visit the quaint, coastal village of Port Fairy than in the heart of winter. On the weekend of 31 July – 2 August 2009 port Fairy will play host to its third ‘Winter Weekend’ themed weekend – this time entitled ‘A Celebration of Food and Wine.’ Demonstrations will be on offer where you can learn the art of the gourmet sausage from the towns very own home grown butcher, Food Flair Classes will demystify the preparation of abalone, preserving the Italian way and making the most of fresh seasonal produce while Lunch ‘n’ Ramble will see you feast your way across town with a progressive lunch and Celebrate the South West Region cuisine will let you indulge in the regional food and wine dinner – bookings a must!
Located just a 20 minute drive from Warrnambool or a relaxing train journet from Melbourne – Port Fairy is one of the magical seaside towns along the Great Ocean Road and home to arts, music culture, fine restaurants and a variety of specialist shops and boutiques – in the heart of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast.
When: 31 July – 2 August
Where: Port Fairy
Bookings: 03 5568 2682
www.portfairywinterweekends.com.au
LONG SUNDAY LUNCH
Sunday Lunch at Cobb & Co
Grampians Produce invites food and wine lovers to join us for Sunday lunch at the historic Cobb & Co changing station in Buangor, a leisurely 178-kilometre canter from Melbourne and the gateway to the Grampians. Join 100 guests as they enjoy a degustation lunch showcasing outstanding local produce, wine and beer, served with old-fashioned country hospitality. There is a V/Line service to Buangor on Sundays, which will get you here from Melbourne at 10.43am and take you home at 3.45pm.
When: Sunday 9 August, 12.00pm
Where: Cobb & Co Changing Station, Western Highway, Buangor
Cost: $90.00 all-inclusive
Bookings: Ararat Visitors Centre 1800 657 158
www.ararat.vic.gov.au
COOKING CLASS & LUNCH
Winter Delights of Bright
Join Melbourne Food and Wine Legend Patrizia Simone, as she celebrates her region’s bounty in winter with a cooking class followed by lunch at Simone's of Bright, in Victoria's North-East. Learn the secrets of baking bread and making sausages with Patrizia and then sit down to enjoy what has been prepared, alongside other local produce picked up from the farm and local wines.
When: Sunday 9 August, 11.00am class followed by lunch at 2.00pm
Where: Simone’s Restaurant, 98 Gavan Street, Bright
Cost: $85.00, or $110.00 with local matching wines
Bookings: 03 5755 2266
www.simonesrestaurant.com.au
SUMPTUOUS DINNERS
A Culinary Discovery of Regional France from Paul Wilson
– Using the Best of Victorian Produce
Iconic Melbourne chef Paul Wilson will present a country feast at the recently restored Redesdale Hotel – the Daylesford and Macedon region’s newest culinary destination. This discovery of regional France will also celebrate the best local produce in interpretations of French classics such as Slow-cooked Wagyu beef Burgundian style with Wild mushroom Soubise. This extraordinary dinner will be matched to the exclusive vintages of Redesdale Estate wines.
When: Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 August, 6.30pm for 7.00pm start
Where: The Redesdale, 2640 Kyneton–Heathcote Road, Redesdale
Cost: $95.00
Bookings: 03 5425 3111
www.theredesdale.com.au
The Stag Long Table Dinner – A seriously good “green” dinner:
Meet the farmer, the retailer, the winemaker, the writer and the chef
Hosted by Max Allen and Mary Eckhardt, proprietor of The Green Grocer, North Fitzroy. You will also meet the farmer and the winemaker, when John Nagorka (Hochkirsh Wines, Henty wine region) joins us for a seriously good five-course dinner matching the region's best sustainable produce to his wines. Prepared by chef, Tanya Connellan, who will be joined in the kitchen by Jo Trinchi, head chef, The Green Grocer.
When: Saturday 1 August, 6.30pm
Where: The Stag Restaurant, 22 Sackville Street, Port Fairy
Cost: $130 (places limited to 30)
Bookings: 03 5568 2998
MEET-THE-WINEMAKER TASTINGS
Meet the Winemaker – Flynn's Winery
Each month Cellar & Store hosts a local winemaker for free tastings of their wines. August’s “Meet the Winemaker” is Greg Flynn of Flynn's Winery in Heathcote. James Halliday rates Flynn's in the top ten new producers and their sangiovese as one of his five best expressions of the variety in Australia. Flynn's wines will be available by the glass or bottle to enjoy with our winter one-pot lunch.
When: Saturday 1 August, from 11.00am
Where: Cellar & Store, 105 High Street, Heathcote
Cost: Free (tastings only)
Bookings: No bookings required for tasting event; Reservations for lunch appreciated 03 5433 2204
www.cellarandstore.com.au
MEET-THE-PRODUCER TASTINGS
Go Local – More than 70 stories to tell
With more than 70 local and regional products in store, Bendigo Wholefoods is a standout experience. Enjoy local and regional Victorian tastings in-store and meet a different local producer each day. Read their stories hanging up all around the shop, along with recipes showcasing delicious local produce.
When: Every day except Sundays, 10.00am – 2.00pm: 27 July–1 August, 3–8 August
Where: Bendigo Wholefoods, 314 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo
Cost: Free
Bookings: Information: 03 5443 9492
www.bendigowholefoods.com.au
VERY VICTORIAN LUNCH & DINNER MENUS
Lamb Shanks & Shiraz
It's the depths of winter and time for our luscious Lamb Shanks & Shiraz. Our lamb shanks are sourced locally and slow-cooked with a glaze of maple syrup, Peter Watson's brandy seeded mustard and oranges from our orchard. Served with potato gratin and freshly picked snow peas and herbs from our kitchen garden, the only thing that could improve them is a glass of our estate-grown Heathcote 2006 MC Shiraz.
When: Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 August, 12.00pm – 4.00pm, Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 August, 12.00pm – 4.00pm
Where: Flynns Wines and Heathcotean Bistro, 29 Lewis Road, Heathcote
Cost: $30
Bookings: 03 5433 6297
www.flynnswines.com
Bendigo Weekly Menu Competition
In celebration of Put Victoria on Your Table, the Bendigo Weekly is running a competition to create a recipe that only uses Victorian products. All ingredients must be sourced from Victoria. Winning recipes will not only be featured in the Bendigo Weekly and receive a $100 voucher from the restaurant or food business that chooses their recipe, it will also star on their menu during the campaign fortnight!
More info: foodfossickers@bendigoweekly.com.au or www.bendigoweekly.com.au
MAIN RIDGE SHUTTLE LOOP
Your Door to Cellar Door Saturdays - Main Ridge Loop
Freedom to meander at your pace on looping shuttles through one of Victoria's lesser known areas. Main Ridge, on the Mornington Peninsula is blessed with internationally known and more intimate boutique wineries all within a single loop. Shuttles will collect and return you to your home or accommodation Peninsula wide or Melbourne's CBD. Dining options are available for those wishing to enjoy Victorian produce in splendid surroundings. Limited numbers so book early.
When: Saturday 1st August 2009
Cost: $99 Peninsula Wide, $129 Melbourne CBD
Bookings: 03 5989 2929
www.yourshuttle.com.au
