A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread, - and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness - Oh, Wilderness were Paradise now!
What better way to celebrate the grape and start our imbibing section than with the famous verse from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam?
Over the coming weeks there will be interviews with winemakers, information on wine, beer and more, so keep visiting the website.
For starters, why not join the Grape Grazing Festival, now in its 21st year.
21st GRAPE GRAZING FESTIVAL - A CELEBRATION OF GREAT FOOD AND WINE
I distinctly remember attending the first Grape Grazing Festival in the Yarra Valley and whew, it’s now in its 21st year.
To mark the 21st birthday of Victoria’s premier food and wine event, the 2008 Yarra Valley Grape Grazing Festival has been extended to include a two- week celebration featuring exceptional wines, outstanding food and warm hospitality from some of the Yarra Valley’s best wineries and restaurants.
For the first time, the festival will cover two weeks - from Saturday, 9 to Monday 18 February - and will offer an abundance of entertaining events, including intimate musical performances, delightful degustation experiences and gourmet cooking classes, culminating in the traditional Grape Grazing weekend on Saturday, 16 and Sunday, 17 February.
Visitors can ``graze’’ on local produce, drink in the panoramic views, as well as the exquisite regional wines of the Yarra Valley.
Award winning vineyards can be found from the Warburton Hwy to Yarra Glen to Cottles Bridge.
Choose from larger vineyards to small, intimate family run wineries and enjoy the quality Yarra Valley wines produced at each.
Gourmets will be spoilt for choice with Balgownie Estate offering slow roasted scotch fillet with soy, mirin and crushed onion sauce, Acacia Ridge with chef Scott Pickett (The Point) providing seated yellow fin tuna Nicoise salad and Killara Estate, with chef Simon Humble (Tutto Bene) preparing classic Italian risotto.
The Valley will be humming all weekend, with music fans grooving to all styles of music, including Cuban, reggae, R & B, jazz and even Australia’s-own ``Robbie Williams’’.
In a major change to the festival, Grape Grazing events are also held at venues throughout the Yarra Valley from Saturday, 9 February.
The 2008 event program features a wide range of activities including spectacular open-air operatic performances, energetic jazz concerts, fantastic food and wine matching events, such as Tapas and Tempranillo and a traditional Sicilian gnocchi cooking class.
Food and wine lovers will be in their element with events such as Kiltynane Estate’s ‘Ultimate Pinot Noir Experience’, which includes a hands-on opportunity to pick and press grapes for their own magnum of 2008 Yarra Valley wine, followed by a decadent private lunch prepared by renowned master chef George Calombaris (The Press Club).
Tickets for the Grape Grazing pass and Grape Grazing events are now available can be purchased on the website, www.grapegrazing.com.au.
The Grape Grazing weekend pass is $40, and includes a souvenir glass, a glass of wine, an entrée sized meal, tea or coffee and a bottle of water. Grape Grazing events are priced individually, with details available on the website.
Why not stay at the Yarra Valley for the weekend?
A range of accommodation options are available on the website.
The TAC is proud to sponsor the Yarra Valley Grape Grazing Festival and works in partnership with the Yarra Valley Winegrowers Association to promote the responsible serving of alcohol.
For information on the Grape Grazing Festival phone (03) 5962 6600.
