Seek out an off-grid weekend with food by top chefs, a double-whammy wine and cheese festival and a long lunch with a face you’ll know from TV.
Colder months bring the spirit of feasting and cosy nights by the fire, but there are plenty of events to lure you from hibernation. Taste the terroir of Grampians wine, take a pal to a long lunch, or get out of Victoria with an off-grid weekend in the Tassie wilderness that includes food from top chefs.
Grampians Grape Escape (May 2 to 4)
Good for: Those who like to give back.
One of Australia’s longest-running food and wine festivals, Grampians Grape Escape has more than 30 years under its belt. This year’s event holds even more weight after recent bushfires, and will open with Feel-Good Friday celebrating the region’s resilience. More than 100 exhibitors will showcase western Victoria’s best, including 30 winemakers such as Dalwhinnie, Jackson Brooke and Seppelt. There are spirits, craft beer and produce; music and live entertainment; a pickling workshop; and cooking demonstrations by MasterChef alums Justine Schofield and Dani Venn.
From $55 (for adults), grampiansgrapeescape.com.au
Mould Cheese Festival x Pinot Palooza (July 4 to 5)
Good for: Lovers of wine and cheese (isn’t that everyone?)
Two of Australia’s favourite festivals have teamed up for the perfect pairing. Mould showcases more than 50 Australian artisan cheeses from bright to pungent and ripe, while Pinot Palooza pours drops from here and abroad. Let winemakers from Innocent Bystander, Meadowbank and Yering Station show you the art of pairing pinot noir with food. In between, try standout cheeses from Bruny Island, Long Paddock and Dreaming Goat, and shop for cheeseboard accompaniments including award-winning charcuterie, pâté, relishes and honey. There are also drinks by Archie Rose.
Darker Days Festival (June 21)
Good for: Craft beer fans who like their brews dark and with a side of rock.
At Bright’s beer and music festival, headlined this year by local indie legends British India, snuggle up beside the bonfire and cradle dark beers from hosts Bright Brewery, New Zealand’s Urbanaut, NSW’s Seeker Brewing and Victoria’s Boatrocker. There’ll be other drinks from High Country producers Alpine Cider, Reed and Co, and Backwoods; hearty feasts of smoked meat, spicy Mexican cuisine and more; plus face-painting, roving entertainers and live music well into the night.
Tickets on sale April 23. Visit Instagramor brightbrewery.com.au/darkerdays for updates.
Deli Lane (May 10)
Good for: Busy people who need cooking inspiration – and anyone who wants to treat their mum the day before Mother’s Day.
Cooking fast, flavourful food for the family is TV host and author Justine Schofield’s ninja skill. And she’s going to share some of her best tricks for streamlining your cooking at a fabulous long lunch hosted by Good Food Events. Embracing your freezer is the focus of Schofield’s new cookbook, Cook Ahead, and she’ll be showing how frozen veg can be your friend with her menu for Deli Lane presented by Bird’s Eye. Joining her will be MasterChef alumni Conor Curran to bring the fun.
$135 for three courses including drinks, goodfoodevents.com.au
Rosheen Kaul and Stephen Nairn at Kittawa Lodge
(May 28 to June 3, July 30 to August 5)
Good for: Those wanting a super boutique experience (although it has a price-tag to match).
If you can’t beat the chill, go all in and book a Tasmanian escape. At secluded Kittawa Lodge on King Island, two super-star Melbourne chefs will bunker down with guests over winter, preparing toasty dinners, bountiful picnics and dreamy breakfasts. Stephen Nairn (Omnia, Yugen) kicks things off in May, followed by Rosheen Kaul (ex-Etta) in July. From Nairn, expect clam chowder, King Island beef with Jerusalem artichoke, and sticky toffee pudding.
From $8650 for two guests for three nights, kittawalodge.com/bookings
With Emma Breheny
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