It's perfect weather for the Yarra Valley

Late Summer/early Autumn is a beautiful time of the year to be visitng the Yarra Valley.  There's always plenty to see, do, taste and buy or simply relax at your favourite Yarra Valley winery for a leisurely meal of local produce all enjoyed with a glass of your favourite Yarra Valley wine. 

March is the time for the annual Melbourne Food & Wine Festival  and  our wineries and restaurants have planned special events for you to enjoy.  Many are listed below and remember it's definitely worth booking early as spaces for these events are always limited.

It's also almost harvest time in the Yarra Valley with grapes now ripening for this year's vintage.  This is always the busiest time of the year for wineries and growers alike.  Winemakers are currently checking to see that all is ready to go in the winery and the growers are beginning to net their vines to ensure the birds don't get too much of their precious fruit.    When vintage starts, it's all hands on deck with everybody working around the clock picking and processing the fruit for this year's wines.  So if you see a few weary looking winemakers, cellar hands and vineyard workers over the next couple of months don't forget to thank them for all the hard work and long hours they're putting in to make wonderful Yarra Valley wine for everyone to enjoy in the future.

As always, don't forget we're only an hour's drive from Melbourne's CBD so get your friends together, jump in the car and we'll see you very soon. 

We're opening a bottle and pouring a glass for you right now.

Summer Sessions @ Sticks Yarra Valley

Sticks Yarra Valley has joined forces with jazz pop duo 'Miss B' and local country and blues band 'The Dukes of Despair' who will be alternating gigs every Sunday* at Cellar Door in February and March with some Summer sounds. We've also teamed up with Yarra Glen Quality Meats, who will be offering a gourmet BBQ between 12pm and 2pm at very reasonable prices! If you're just after a snack, we're also serving our very popular gourmet cheese platters and a range of organic soft drinks from Phoenix.  Bring a blanket and relax on the lawn, or get in early and grab a table on the deck!

When:  every Sunday during February and March*
Cost:    entry is free and the music and BBQ kicks off at midday.

Hope you can join us!

*Weather permitting - check our website for details.
 

Seville Hill Summer Jazz

Enjoy a leisurely Sunday afternoon under the shade of the English elms at Seville Hill and relax while listening to the smooth sounds of Jazz performed by the "Chris Dal Trio" joined by some of Melbourne's talented, young musicians.

Gourmet BBQ, cheese and antipasto plates available

When:  February 27th, March 13th & 20th, April 3rd & 17th
Time:   12:00pm - 4:30pm
Tel:       03 5964 3284  - due to over whelming popularity it would be appreciated if you could book in advance for catering purposes.
 

The Longest Lunch - Yarra Valley style

As part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, Healesville Harvest is holding a Yarra Valley Long Lunch under the towering gums at the Healesville Sanctuary on Friday 4th March 2011.

White-clothed tabels on a winding track, under towering gums beside Badger Creek.  To start a glass of De Bortoli "La Boheme" Rose and Yarra Valley Dairy cheese tasting.  Three courses of seasonal, regional produce with a bush food influence - think salmon, Yeringberg lamb, Harvest Farm herbs, summer peaches and raspberries.  Fabulous De Bortoli "La Boheme" wines to match each dish.  Wander the sanctuary . . . tickets $100 per person, midday to 4.00pm.  More info & bookings tel:  03 5962 4002 

When:  Friday 4th March 2011
Time:   Midday to 4.00pm
Cost:   $100 per person
Tel:      03 5962 4002

Make your own Sparkling Wine at Domaine Chandon

Have you ever been seduced by the idea of making your own sparkling wine?  If so then Domaine Chandon would like to invite you for a day of Sparkling Seduction!

As a part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival they are hosting the Sparkling Seduction event on Saturday March 5th. Come and join the Chandon winemaking team and immerse yourself in vintage 2011. Taste grapes and ferments and delve into the art of blending. Enjoy a relaxed vigneron's lunch and vintage bubbles before disgorging and dosing two bottles of your own personalised sparkling wine to take home after a remarkable day.

When: Saturday 5th March 2011
Time:  10.00am to 4.00pm
Where: Domaine Chandon 727 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream
Cost: $180 per person includes lunch and two bottles of vintage sparkling wine to take away
Bookings: 03 9738 9245
 

The Killara Estate Oxfam Charity Lunch with Steve Moneghetti

The London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event on the planet – runners have raised over £500 million for good causes since the race began in 1981. This Year’s Marathon in April 2011 will see Leo Palazzo (owner of Killara Estate)  and his son Anthony enter the challenging 42km event. In doing so they have pledged to raise in excess of £4,000 for Oxfam.  The money Leo & Anthony raise will help the world’s poor get the training, skills and support they need to lift themselves out of poverty.
It means families earning a decent living, more children in school, dignity, independence and financial security for future generations.  As part of the lead up and excitement for this great event Killara Estate will be hosting a Luncheon to raise much needed funds for Oxfam.   Steve Moneghetti will be in attendance as Killara Estate's special guest speaker.    If you would like to get involved in this fun afternoon, come along to the luncheon and cheer on our runners.  Live entertainment, raffles and couple of surprises.

Where:  Killara Estate, cnr. Warburton Highway & Sunnyside Road, Seville East
When:   Sunday 6th March 2011 (12 noon to 5pm)
Cost:    $75.00 per person includes three course meal and matched wines (Tables of 10 or more $65.00 per person)
Bookings:  Kevin Sheehan on  03 5967 5877 or Leo Palazzo on 0408 567 400 

Yarra Valley Cider Festival

Join the Healesville Hotel and Napoleone & Co Cider in the Healesville Hotel's garden for an old fashioned afternoon celebrating local apple cider.  Think of spit roasted pork & apple sauce in a crusty roll with tastings and sales of crisp, sparkling apple ciders from local producers.

There will be apple bobbing & apple peeling competitions and Healesville's Mr. Longbottom the Clown to entertain the children with apple antics.  More info

When:  Sunday 6th March 2011
Time:   12 noon to 4.00pm
Cost:    At door - adults $25.00  Children $10.00
              Pre Sales - adults $20.00  Children  $5.00
Tickets & Enquiries:  03 5962 4002
 

Mandala Wines' Family Feast on the Beast

Family Feast on the Beast is a celebration of delicious local produce and cool-climate wines, set in the heart of the picturesque Yarra Valley at Mandala Wines. 

As live Jazz and Blues drifts through the vines, you'll enjoy Louisiana style succulent spit-roasted meat, BBQ, fish, salads and desserts accompanied by a selection of Mandala's fine wines.  With entertainment for the kids, Family Feast on the Beast will make for a casual, relaxing day, perfectly spent with good friends and family.  More details and the menu (it looks amazing)

When:   Sunday 13th March 2011
Time:    12 noon to 4pm
Where:  Mandala Wines, 1586 Melba Highway, Dixons Creek
Cost:     Adults $45.00
               Family $100 (two adults & two children under 15)
              Additional children $10.00
Tel:       03 5965 2016  

The Yarra Valley goes to Taste of Sydney

March 10 to 13 will see Yarra Valley wineries travelling "north of the border" to Taste of Sydney 2011 . Centennial Park will again play host to Sydney's Ultimate Restaurant event.  Attending from the Yarra Valley will be Oakridge Wines, Punt Road Wines and Yering Station.  Look out for them at the Yarra Valley stand and drop by for a taste or two. 

When:  Thursday 10th March to Sunday 13th March 2011
Where: Centennial Park, Sydney

Yarra Valley Beach Vineyard

Yarra Valley Beach Vineyard at Republica is where the Yarra Valley meets Port Phillip Bay for two days of music, food and wine.  As part of the 2001 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival come and experience some of the Yarra Valley's best boutique vineyards right on St. Kilda Beach.  The Republica Courtyard at the iconic St. Kilda Sea Baths will be converted into a vineyard playing host to Yarra Valley tasting stations with cellar door opportunities.  It's the Yarra Valley at the beach!  More info   You'll be able to taste wines from Boat O'Craigo, Seville Hill , Five Oaks, Seville Estate, Graeme Miller Wines , Coldstream Hills, Bluestone Acres, Sutherland Estate and Yarra Yering.

When:    Sunday 13th & Monday 14th March (The Long Weekend)
Time:     12noon to 9.00pm
Cost:      Entry free of charge -  Wine Tasting Glass $5.00
Where:  Republica Courtyard, St. Kilda Sea Baths, 10 - 18 Jacka Blvd, St. Kilda 

Cheese, Olives, Pastes and Wine at Helen's Hill

Visit Helen's Hill's Cellar Door on Sunday 27th March 2011 and as well as tasting some wonderful wines, you'll be able to meet a cheese maker, olive grower and paste maker as well.  Taste and buy cheese from the Tarago Cheese Company, Nicolas Olives and Australian Harvest with pastes from Coldstream. This will be held in the Cellar Door and with cheese, olive and paste tastings from11.00am until 3.30pm.

When:  Sunday 27th March 2011
Time:   Cheese, olive & paste tastings:  11.00am to 3.30pm