News and Events

Heathcote Wine & Food Festival 2008 - October 4-5

Location: Heathcote Showgrounds - Chauncey St, Heathcote.

Where else can you taste Heathcote wines from over 40 producers, as well as regional foods and produce? Only at Heathcote’s Wine & Food Festival!

  

Head to Heathcote, Victoria’s Heartland,  4th and 5th of October 2008 (10:30AM-5PM) , for the Heathcote wine region's annual wine and food festival, held at Heathcote’s Showground (in Chauncey St, Heathcote). This sixth year of the event will be showcasing more Heathcote wines than ever before.

The Heathcote region of Victoria produces fine wines of elegance and distinction, above and beyond it’s Shiraz vintage.  From passionately maintained vineyards on the worlds most ancient soils come amazing world-class wines.

Once a year, the artisan winemakers of Heathcote gather to show some of the most distinctive and iconic wines in the country. Add delectable regional foods, live music, activities for children and tutored wine tastings and this "Class in a Glass" festival is an event not to be missed           

Fun & Entertainment

  

 
Join us and listen to the music, participate in a wine appreciation seminar, watch the chefs prepare local food product. There will be many wines with interesting and beautiful food - something for everyone!

Entry Fees   Entry is $20 a person and includes a tasting glass (non-drinkers $10). You can obtain an all-weekend pass for $35. And yes, you can visit the producers’ stalls and taste their wines for free. Parking is within the grounds, so the walk is short - ideal if you desire to take away bottles or cases for cellaring and later consumption. Enjoy a day of gourmet foods, live music, petanque and other events. Of course, the sheer bliss of tasting some of the most exciting wines in the world might be enough for some.
So please join us and find out why Heathcote is not just the shiraz capital, but the red wine capital of Australia!  Download a brochure containing the program for the Festival: Brochure (353Kb) 
                                                                                                          Conditions of Entry   No BYO alcohol to be brought within the grounds. No dogs are permitted.

Program   The event continues over both Saturday and Sunday October 4-5 (10:30am - 5pm). Live music will be playing throughout both days. Childrens' activities and entertainment will also be presented on both days. 
On Saturday you will be entertained by Ballyhooly - a mainly Irish Celtic band, a collective of fine musicians from Castlemaine. On Sunday the main band will be Inka Marka, a South American Indian band specialising in Andes music. A supporting act will be assisting on each day.
Schedule for Saturday:
10.30 AM Opening of Festival
11:00 AM Music – Ballyhooly (5-piece Celtic-flavoured vocal and multi-instrument band)
11.30 AM Cooking Demonstration
11.45 AM Childrens entertainment with Bendigo group Fusion
12.00 PM Wine Appreciation Seminar
12.30 PM Music – contemporary vocal & guitar duo Rebecca & Bianca Maes
 1.25 PM Childrens’ entertainment with Fusion
 1.30 PM Cooking Demonstration
 2.00 PM Music – Ballyhooly
 2.00 PM Wine Appreciation Seminar
 2.40 PM Childrens’ entertainment with Fusion
 3.10 PM Music – Rebecca & Bianca Maes
 3.30 PM Cooking Demonstration
 3.40 PM Childrens’ entertainment with Fusion
 4.00 PM Wine Appreciation Seminar
 4.10 PM Music – Ballyhooly
 5.00 PM Festival closes
Schedule for Sunday:
10.30 AM Opening of Festival
11:00 AM Music – Hardrive Bluegrass Band
11.30 PM Cooking Demonstration
11.45 AM Childrens’ entertainment with Bendigo group Fusion
12.00 PM Wine Appreciation Seminar
12.30 PM Music – guitars, mandolin and vocal duo Dave and Peter Moloney.
 1.25 PM Childrens’ entertainment with Fusion
 1.30 PM Cooking Demonstration
 2.00 PM Music – Hardrive
 2.00 PM Wine Appreciation Seminar
 2.40 PM Childrens’ entertainment with Fusion
 3.10 PM Music – Dave & Peter Moloney
 3.40 PM Childrens’ entertainment with Fusion
 3.30 PM Cooking Demonstration
 4.10 PM Music – Hardrive
 5.00 PM Festival closes

Note:   On both days the childrens’ entertainment provided by Fusion will include:
 Wind tunnel, stilt walking, races, balloon sculpting, plate twirling, tug of war, face painting and other similarly entertaining activities.
PROGRAMME SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Stallholders     There will be over 70 stallholders participating in this event - 42 wineries, 27 food and 2 novelty!

   Wineries

   Food stalls

Armstead Estate

Barista Bros - Let's Do Coffee

Ashley Vineyard

Coffee Daddy

Bansia Grove WIne

Axedale Olives

Barfold Estate

Barfold Olives

Barnadown Run

Cellar & Store

Burke & Wills Winery

Chapman Hill

Carlei Wines

Colliers Chocolates

Coliban Valley Wines

Couch Spudz

Condie Heathcote Estate

Goldfields Gourmet Preserves

Dead Horse Hill

Kelly's Homestead

Downing Estate

Kyneton Olive Oil

Eppalock Ridge

Locheilan Farmhouse Cheese

Flynn's Wines

Maldon Yabby Farm

Galli Estate Winery

Michel's Fine Biscuit Co Castlemaine

Kennedy Vintners

Olive Branch Preserves

Hanging Rock Winery

Pud for All Seasons

Heathcote Winery

Spice Bazaar

Henning's View Vineyard

Tt's Treats

Idavue Estate

Wildings

In The Know

Echuca's Ice Creamery

Lake Cooper Estate

Timboon Fine Icecream

Lindenton Wines

Bangerboy

Louis De Castella Wines

Rare Bite Catering

McIvor Estate

The Open Garden Cafe

Mia Valley Estate

Tooborac Hotel

Milvine Estate Wines

Turkish Gozleme

Mount Burrumboot Estate

Waffleworx

Mt Camel Winery & Vineyard

Mt Tooleen

Other

Munari Wines

Bendigo Hats

Red Edge

Mount Ida Lavender

Redesdale Estate

Sanguine Estate

She Oak Hill Vineyard

St Michael's Vineyard

Stefani Estate

Tayloroo Wines

 

The Bridge Vineyard

Tyrrels Wines

Wanted Man Vineyard

Dalhousie Fine Foods & McIvor Creek Wines

Shelmerdine

Travelling to Heathcote:

Click here for how to get there

Those not wishing to travel to the festival in their own car can contact the
following organisations and arrange transport to and from the event:

For local transport to and from Kyneton and environs or around
Heathcote during the festival, contact:
Ben and Judy Hunter
JABL (Wedding Cars and Stretch-Limousines)
Perfect to share with friends for the festival
Ph: 5422-1955
Fax: 03 5422 2677
Website:
www.jablweddingcars.com.au
Email: ben@jablweddingcars.com.au

For local transport to and from Bendigo and around
Heathcote during the festival, contact:
Bob Pumpa at
Comet Tours & Charters
Ph/Fax:  5433-3567
Mob:  0418-792-957
Email:
pumpa13@bigpond.net.au

For more Festival information:

Download a brochure containing the program for the Festival: Brochure (353Kb)
or 
Call Phil Meehan on 5433-2105  

Accommodation: 
Visit
www.heathcotewinegrowers.com.au/visitors_guide/
 or
Heathcote Visitor Information Centre Website:
www.heathcote.org.au
Phone: 5433-3121

Bendigo Tourism :   Very helpful, friendly people. Bendigo spoils visitors with accommodation options.  A free and friendly accommodation booking service is available on 1800 813 153 or www.bendigotourism.com

"Celebrate Heathcote" Gourmet Wine Dinner - Sat 4th October 2008:
As a complimentary event to the Wine and Food Festival, Heathcote hosts its second Gourmet Wine Dinner "Celebrate Heathcote" on Saturday 4th October, at the Heathcote Golf Club. The dinner includes wines from 12 diferent award winning wineries of the Heathcote Wine Region carefully matched with a gourmet four course meal prepared by regional chefs. So come and join us and help us to “celebrate Heathcote”.
Cost - $130 per person.
For more information about this dinner tel (03)-5423-4225 or email:
info@barfoldestate.com.au