Olives are an acquired taste. You’ve either acquired the taste or not – yet!
Either way, there is an inspiring day to be had by all at the annual
Abundance Olive Festival at the stunning
Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove in Red Hill South, just 70 minutes from Melbourne, this weekend, the 18th & 19th of July.
More than just a celebration and launch of the year’s olive harvest, this fine gathering of fine people in fabulous surrounds celebrates many of life’s other joys.
It’s held on a well-tended and much-loved 50-acre amphitheater property, complete with 1500 olive trees, row after row of vineyards stretching over velvety hills and valleys, sculpture collection, wetlands, and a kitchen garden that services the multi-award winning, hatted
Montalto Restaurant. If you want to get the mouth watering, check out the
menu.
I’ve been blessed to dine there a few times and it’s one of those ‘Wow’ experiences that stays with you forever. You need to book though, especially on the popular weekend of the olive festival.
Otherwise, there’s the convivial Piazza for al fresco dining, perhaps warmed by Montalto's very own premium wine, along with plenty of interesting stalls featuring olive-inspired and other foods.
Popeye and Olive Oil will be dropping into the family-friendly fiesta to entertain the kids – and the kids at heart.
There’s even an olive-pip spitting competition if you feel so inclined!
