There is a wealth of wonderful winery experiences in the Victorian Rutherglen wine region this year at the annual Tastes of Rutherglen event starting on Friday 8 March through to Sunday 10 March 2024.
Cleverly planned, you can select a two-day (Saturday 9th and Sunday 10 March) festival admission ticket for $40 per person, single day festival admission for $25 each, and a hop-on-hop-off shuttle bus service on Saturday or Sunday for $40 per day, or a night bus shuttle service on any of the Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights for $10 per night.
Friday 8 March
There's the Winemakers of Rutherglen happy hour from 5.30pm-7.00pm at The Victoria Hotel where you meet the winemakers and artisans for $40 per person over glasses of wine and canapes.
Cofield Wines is putting on Prosecco, Platters and Plates from 6.00pm-10.00pm with live music for $10 per person.
Lake Moodemere Estate will treat you to its Summer Nights event, where you enjoy a four-course seasonal menu on their deck from 6.00pm-10.00pm, $100 per member, $110 per non-member.
Saturday 9 March
For the early birds, Pfeiffer Wines offers a Sunday Creek Vineyard Walk from 8.00am-10.00am from $15 per person.
Lake Moodemere Estate offers the Grape to Glass hands-on-winemaking amongst the wines where you pick and crush the grapes from 10.30am-11.30am, $25 per member, $45 per non-member.
At 11.00am and 3.00pm on both Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March, Jones Winery & Vineyard offers the Winery Tour & Tasting for $15 per person.
Also at 11.00am on both days is Cofield Wines' Into the Darkness blindfolded wine tasting event with matched food for $30 per member, $40 per non-member, and Stanton & Killeen Wines' Portuguese Masterclass where you can be among the first to try their 2023 Arinto and Alvarinho releases, limited edition single variety bottlings of Souzao and the very rare Tinto Cao for $35 per person.
At Olive Hills Estate on both Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March at 11.00am and 2.00pm is Vintage Behind the Scenes where you hand-plunge the grapes and taste the wine mid-ferment for $30 per person.
Take your furry friend to Stanton & Killeen Wines' Third Annual S&K Dog Athletics at 2.00pm where you can test their agility with the Doggy High Jump. A free event, all donations will be made to Albury Wodonga Animal Rescue.
Also at 2.00pm is De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate's Discovery Masterclass where you discover such alternative varietals as Arneis, Fiano and Sangiovese. Free for members, $30 each for non-members.
On both days Anderson Winery is holding its Vintage Sample Tasting at 3.00pm where you sample vintage 2024 in the form of grapes, fermenting juice and/or newly fermented wine, for $25 per person, refundable on purchase.
Pfeiffer Wines has the Sunset Wine Down from 5.00pm-8.00pm on Saturday 9 March with food stalls and live music, BYO picnic rug. Free entry.
Jones Winery & Vineyard has its five-course degustation Harvest Dinner from 7.00pm-10.00pm, $140 per person (excludes wine), bookings essential while De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate has its Discovery Winemakers Dinner from 6.00pm-10.00pm featuring its acclaimed white and red wine matched with a four-course gourmet meal for $135 for Cellar Club members, $145 each for non-members.
Sunday 10 March
Unleash your inner artist with Pfeiffer Wines' Paint and Sip from 10.00am-12.30pm where you enjoy an indulgent high tea while sipping on your favourite Pfeiffer drop in this unique step-by-step painting experience, for $95 per person.
Golfer will love The Great Lake Moodemere Hole in One Challenge at Lake Moodemere Estate where you attempt to land the ball on the floating green from 10.30am-11.30am, $5 for 3 shots.
Chambers Rosewood Winery rounds out the day with Chill Out With Cocktails from 5.00pm-9.00pm, serving wine, beer and food with classic hits from the 60s to 80s. Free entry but bookings required.
The final event from 6.00pm-10.00pm is at the stately All Saints Estate, Gather By Kin. An exclusive six-course dinner is paired by wines from winemaker Nick Brown's personal cellar, served in the atmospheric cask hall. $280 for Wine Royalty members, $310 per non-member.