As Melbourne celebrates the famous Melbourne Cup, Geelong is set to Toast the Coast, with their 14th Annual Toast to the Coast 2015. The Toast to the Coast is being held on October 31st and November 1st 2015.
Over two days, Saturday and Sunday, guests and locals will have a chance to explore the three Geelong Wine regions. Visit one, two or three of the regions during this weekend of wine tasting, superb meals, and touring of the Geelong region.
Come for the wine, stay for the location, the scenery and the pleasant outdoor atmosphere of the wineries. Tour the wineries and stay the night in lovely locations such as Ocean Grove, Torquay, Lethbridge, Wallington, Drysdale, Bellbrae or Bannockburn.
There are plenty of wineries to visit, and lots more towns (than the ones that I've listed) involved in the Toast to the Coast, too numerous to mention in this article. You can see how many wineries are involved (33 wineries I believe) by visiting
Geelong Wine for more information.
The three different wine regions across Geelong are the Bellarine, the Moorabool Valley and the Surf Coast. With 33 wineries participating, download a map and guide so you can locate the wineries you'd prefer to visit. At most wineries you can stroll through the vineyards, eat lunch with wonderful views of the vineyards or the hills, and be entertained by local musicians. Remember to try some wine tasting too!
There are a few ways to enjoy the weekend and to be safe. There is a shuttle bus service that will take visitors from place to place, you'll need to book tickets. Or you can arrange for a designated driver to keep you all safe and sound.
I would like to mention a few wineries, breweries and cider houses. Let me highlight some of the wineries in brief, to whet your appetite.
At the Flying Brick Cider House, located in the Bellarine region, the winery
"Yes Said the Seal" is also onsite. According to James Halliday, "Yes Said the Seal" is one of the ten best new wineries in the 2016 Companion. Head to the Flying Brick Cider House over the Toast to the Coast weekend, try a meal, and choose a wine or cider to go with the meal.
As the Toast to the Coast starts on Saturday, tourists and locals alike can spend the weekend enjoying food, entertainment, wine, beer or cider. Then the festivities continue up until Melbourne Cup Day with different wineries offering Melbourne Cup Day specials. Dress up in formal attire and attend a Cup Day at the wineries.
Melbourne Cup Day Activities
Jack Rabbit Vineyard is holding a Melbourne Cup Day Culinary Carnival, starting at 12.00 noon on Tuesday 3rd November.
Dress up in your best Melbourne Cup Day clothing, avoid the drive to Melbourne, cruise down the road to the Jack Rabbit Vineyard, and celebrate the Melbourne Cup with friends. Sip on their premium wines, enjoy the view across the bay, and try some of the delicious food on offer.
You can watch the Big Race on the big screen, and enter the sweeps during the day.
For $75.00, you get lunch, a glass of sparkling on arrival, and you can watch the Melbourne Cup Day in style. There is also a complimentary Cup Day return Shuttle Bus service from Geelong. Call 03 5251 2223 or email
Jack Rabbit Vineyard to book your place.
Oakdene Vineyards Melbourne Cup Day
Can't make it to the Melbourne Cup festivities at Flemington Raceway? You can celebrate Melbourne Cup Day at Oakdene Vineyards. Fashion, food and wine are the order of the day.
Dine in the restaurant or the garden marqueen, watch the Flemington Melbourne Cup excitement, dress in your Race Day finery, and enter in the Best Dressed competition at the Oakdene Vineyards.
Try the canapes served during the day, and some of the famous Melbourne Cup dishes from the Chef's table. Tickets for this Melbourne Cup Day event are $60.00 per person. Drinks at bar prices. Email
Oakdene Estatefor more information.
Come to Geelong, meet the wine growers, the brewers, enjoy the fine fare at the cellar restaurants, and enjoy a weekend of taste testing, getting to know the cellar owners. Try the maritime flavours of The Bellarine, the warm, continental style climate of the Moorabool Valley and the cooling ocean breezes of the Surf Coast. Each region produces quality hand crafted wines, that visitors can taste first hand.
Come for the variety of tastes, for the fun of event, for the food and the festivities. Join in a Melbourne Cup Day with a difference - view the race from one of the participating wineries. Have a safe weekend and enjoy the Toast to the Coast.
Tickets for this two day event are available from
GPAC. You can download a
Toast to the Coast program for the weekend - showing wineries, locations, and maps.
Please let me know if the email links above are not working. Thank you!
