Regional eateries will see a tourism explosion as the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival travels around the state. 

Food and Drink Victoria chief executive Anthea Loucas Bosha said she was “thrilled” to be back in regional Victoria. “This program highlights the extraordinary food and drink experiences that make Victoria the best place in the world to eat and drink,” she said.

Gippsland

On Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20, the town of Thorpdale will host the Village Feast. The two day event will host some the brightest culinary minds from the Gippsland region and around Australia. There will be a five course lunch cooked over a campfire by Farmer’s Daughters chef Alejandro Saravia, as well as live music performances from Mia Wray, Dorsal Fins, Grace Cummings and more performers. The event will feature wine and other drinks from Gippsland’s best brewers and distilleries. Tickets range from $32 to $45.

Ballarat

From Saturday, November 19 to Saturday, November 26, Ballarat will host a number of different events, highlighting local flavours and establishments. The festival’s events start on Friday, November 18 with Club Eat Art at Mr Jones Dining, which features modern Asian Food that you can enjoy while taking part in interactive projection and live performances. Some of the other highlights of the events taking place in Ballarat include a ten course collaboration between two of the country’s best chefs, Igni’s Aaron Turner and Underbar’s Derek Boath. If history is your jam, the 1920s-inspired seven course menu hosted at the heritage-listed Canberra should be top of your list. The events in Ballarat range from $74-$554

Alexandra

The Melbourne food and wine festival’s “crawl” of the picturqued mountain town of Alexandra on Sunday November 27 is perfect for lovers of bread and beer alike. The tour starts off at the Grant Street Grocer, where you can enjoy a glass of Little River Sparkling Brut combined polpette made with Local Belle Ridge goat. Next up, you’re stopping at the Alexandra Hotel where patrons can enjoy rabbit terrine with a side of country loaf and pickles. The tour finishes up at the historic Corner Hotel pub which dates all the way back to 1866. Here you can partake in Goulburn River smoked trout and your choice Sedona Estate wines. Prices start at $88.

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Beechworth

The festival features a tour of the iconic gold rush town of Beechworth on Saturday, November 26. The crawl of this historic town has something for everyone. The Tour starts off at Project 49, where you can enjoy the best smallgoods the high country has to offer all washed down with a glass of chardonnay before heading off to Bridge Road Brewers. Bridge Road features some of the best craft bar the high country has to offer. The experience isn’t complete without tasting one of there wood-fired pizzas that are topped with locally sourced ingredients. The tour finishes up at Billson Soda Bar where you enjoy a range of milkshakes and spiders reimagined for contemporary tastes. And don’t forget the secret cocktail bar that has a few surprises in store for everyone. The tour starts at $94. Also on offer is a weekend away in Beechworth. The trip features a private tasting of Michael Ryan’s amari line as well as bottles to take home. You’ll also have the chance the tour the Savaterre Winery with one of Australia’s best winemakers Keppell Smith and taste the latest vintages. For dinner you’ll have an 18 course meal at the Provenance with drinks to match and a bottle to take home. And the next morning you’ll get a world class breakfast before checking out at 11am. Tickets start at $954.

Bright

The town of Bright is a beacon of the best wines, gins and spirits that the Victorian high country has to offer, and with the festival’s tour on Saturday, November 19, you get to experience the highlights. Your tour starts off with a combination of prawn toast and banh mi, washed down with a selection of the local vintages at The Tomahawk. Next you’re off to Hometown for a cocktail party. You’ll get to try Hometown’s famous margherita pizza combined with fresh margarita cocktails The tour ends up at the Reed and Co Distillery where patrons can try their new Japanese-inspired yuszuzhu spirit combined with a black-sesame miso chocolate tart for dessert. Tickets are $94.

Mansfield

The festival’s tour of Mansfield starts in the shadow of Mount Buller with a cuppa from Mansfield Coffee Merchants, brewed from their own roastery. Combined with the housemade doughnuts it should be the perfect start to the day, before you off down the road. Next stop is Mansfield Produce Store, where you grab all the jams and jellies you need to have the perfect high country morning tea, before heading off for dinner. The tour concludes at The Fields, one of the best examples of what Mansfield dining has to offer. At The Fields, you’ll enjoy some crisp dumplings and their signature Peachy Keen cocktails. Tickets are $88 and the crawl is on Friday, November 25.

Milawa

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s crawl through Milawa is perfect for all aspiring sommeliers. The crawl starts off with a visit to the cellar door of one of the best winemakers in the country, The Brown Brothers. Here you’ll get to sample some of the Brothers’ latest vintages, combined with snacks from their restaurant. Next up, offer your taste buds some of the best gins the high country has to offer at the Milawa Providore. Here, sample three of their award winning gins which should help wash down the wood-fired pizza. Last stop is a visit to the Milawa Cheese team and hear from them about how they’ve spent the last 30 years making sustainable cheese while enjoying a glass from the Woodpark Wines. Tickets are $94 and the tour is on Saturday, November 26.

Rutherglen

On Saturday, November 19 the festival features a scenic stroll through one of the most historic towns in the high country. You’ll start off at Grace Bar and Eatery for their iconic Mustcat Gin Sour and some smoked trout. Next you’re off to the Thousand Pound Wine Bar for a glass of St Leonards to wash down their homegrown house made snacks. Your afternoon ends at James & Co’s wine celler where Rick James himself will walk you through this year’s wines. Tickets are $94.

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Daylesford

If you love to go behind the scenes, the farm to table experience at Daylesford’s Dairy Flat Farm is for you. You’ll get an inside look at every aspect of how your dinner that evening gets made. From a tour through the beehives to a chat with the bakers, you’ll truly get to see it all. Once you’ve seen the process, it’s time to sit down with culinary director Alla Wolf-Tasker as she talks you through the local farm that inspired the menu. Your meal will be paired with something special out of the cellar. After breakfast, you’ll leave with a signed copy of Alla’s book Three Decades On. Tickets start at $1409.

Coldstream

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival may be the best way to experience a weekend of premium eating and drinking at The Farmhouse at Meletos in Coldstream. You’ll get to chat with winemaker Sandra de Pury as she takes you on a tour of the Yeringberg Winery, before heading back to the brewhouse to taste some of the best Australian made whiskeys. For dinner, you’ll have a six course meal prepared by chef Marvin Tan in collaboration with the Stones of the Yarra Valley’s chef Samuel Eng, with wines to match. Finally, be treated to a continental breakfast before being sent home with a hamper filled to the brim with the best produce the region has to offer. Tickets are $1089.

Merricks North

The Festival aims to celebrate the producers of Mornington in true style with a once-in-a-lifetime dinner underneath Doot Doot Doot’s 10,000 globe chandelier. You’ll start the evening with a cocktail at Jackalope’s cocktail bar before moving on to freshly shucked Flinders oysters at sunset. Dinner is a five course tasting menu, hosting some of the region’s best producers. Tour the kitchen and garden for breakfast, before heading home with a bag of tasty treats. Tickets start at $1353.

Dunkeld

For those after the royal treatment you won’t want to miss the festival’s escape to the Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld. This retreat features wine tutorials at the Royal Mail’s renown celler and a five course meal with paired wines supplied by Hamish Thompson of Best Wines. Each morning will begin with breakfast delivered to your room, before your choice of self guided recreation. In the evening you’ll head to the kitchen for a tour guided by executive chef Robin Wickens before your three course meal with matching wine at Packer St Project. Tickets are $2104.

This article originally appeared on heraldsun.com.au. It has been reproduced here with permission.

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