The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is one of our highlights of the year. The creativity of organisers, the free events and the festival vibe make it a great time to be in Melbourne.
We’re going to don our comfy pants and loosen those purse strings to indulge in all things food, wine, music and festival from 4-14 March 2016.
After combing through all 400 events here are our top picks:
Festival Opening Party: 4 March – We don’t like missing out on opening parties and this one is no exception. You’ll have the chance to taste creations from some of the festivals best chefs with a focus on comfort food.
Cellar Cellar: 4-6 March – “60 of the state’s best wineries come together to celebrate all that is fine about Victorian wine.”
Art and Sole: 8-9 March – ‘The inspiring seasonal cuisine of Joe Grbac will be presented as five roving courses, with matched wines, whilst guests are guided around the exquisite Georgian and Regency interiors of Fairhall House Museum.”
Fromage a Trios Cheese & Cider Festival: 6 March – It’s a festival within a festival set in “the spectacular grounds of Werribee Park Mansion, with local cheese and cider makers, wine, beer, music and entertainment.”
Garden Picnic: 4-6 March – “The grass under your feet, the sun on your back and tasty morsels of picnic fare.”
Pastry Perfection: 6 March – Australian native spices shine “in this intimate dessert degustation, where the Michelin-star-trained wonder creates her out-of-this-world culinary artworks right before your eyes.”
Uit Africola: 6 March – “Get a taste of Chef Duncan Welgemoed’s South African heritage paired with wines chosen by his close friend”
Whiskey Bar Crawl: 9 March – Visit “some of the best Whisky dens in town that will have you sipping and tasting like a pro in no time.”
Cooking Like Nonna: 12 March – “Prepare five iconic Sicilian dishes using the exact tools and ingredients Italian migrants brought from Italy.”
Free Events
Can you feel your wallet burning? Never fear! The Melbourne Food & Wine team has a ton of free events to ease your dime-loss. Here are our favourites:
Seddon Festival: 5 March – “Cafes and restaurants will move outdoors for the day, creating a boulevard of activity around music, food, wine.”
Roof Top Garden: 4-6 March – “Enjoy cool drinks from Little Creatures and savvy snacks and cocktails designed by Tommy Collins.”
Windsor & Co Block Party: 6 March – “Cruise through the laneway and connect with inspiring live music, hip hops and drops, street art, circus arts”
Tokyo Laneway Festival: 12 March – “A neo-Tokyo laneway, complete with street food vendors, yakitori BBQ, harajuku girls, live graffiti art and a pop-up bar featuring craft beer and Japanese cocktails.”
Melbourne Food & Wine 2016 is set to be epic. There’s something for everyone and we hope you put on your comfy pants and go out and indulge!
– The Plus Ones
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival runs from 4-14 March. You can view the full list of events here.