Just as the winter blues gear to engulf even the liveliest soul, the coming about of the
2010 Grampians Grape Escape Wine and Food Festival seems godsend. The event will take place between May 1 & 2, 2010 at
Halls Gap – around two hours and 45 minutes' drive from Melbourne.
In the spotlight of this eventful fest will be: Breakfast with celebrity TV chef Manu Fieldel of 'My Kitchen Rules' fame, Grampians winemakers Shiraz Barrique auction, 'Moulin Rouge'
festival dinner with chef Manu, Grampians master classes, creative
cooking demonstrations, scarecrow competition and display, night tour of the Seppelt underground cellars, and needless to mention the awe-inspiring Grampians.
Click here for a complete list of events.
Learn a few tricks or simply gawk at Chef Manu's dexterity as he hosts cooking sessions for the public. For a more indulgent experience, you can have a three-course dinner prepared by none other than the Chef himself.
Indulge your senses with fine food, some of the finest Grampians' wines in a natural paradise. There are limited seats so hurry and make a booking. And if the $120 ticket gives you a dry throat, you'll surely forget that once you've degusted the masterful culinary creations in the majestic backdrop of the Grampians National Park.
For an unusual yet memorable experience, visit the Beaten Track Wine & Art Gallery in Buangor for the 'Scarecrow Competition', which will take place between April 14 and May 17 (open daily 10am to 3.30pm). You can not only vote for your favourite piece but will also get a chance to admire the skill, effort and spirit with which the entrants create their scarecrows. The fest concludes with a 'Scarecrows' Picnic' on May 2, Sunday from 10am to 3.30pm. Food and fine wines will be available for sale.
Throughout the festival there will heaps of other entertainment options too, like live music, activities for kids, craft market with over 80 vendors, Friday Night @ The Gap Vineyard hosted by Grampians Produce Inc & the Gap Winery, bushwalking and biking tours, Indigenous Evening of Dance at Brambuk - The National Park & Cultural Centre, or simply enjoy dinner under the start at various venues at Stony Creek.
A general admission ticket costs $5, while a Special Wine Lovers' package costs $30 and includes general admission on both days, Souvenir Festival wine tasting glass, Souvenir Festival environment-friendly bag, wrist band to access sampling wines from over 40 wineries and a bottle of still drinking water. For further enquiries
click here.
And while you're there, you should also try to explore the region further. For a list of activities and attractions
click here or visit the
Halls Gap or the
Grampians website.
