Australia’s city of gastronomy shows off its food and wine this spring
A gastronomic progressive dinner is one of the main spring events celebrating food and wine. Photo: Masons of Bendigo
One of Australia’s proudest wine and food regions will open its cellar doors, restaurants and bars this spring and it’s bound to tempt all tastebuds.
Bendigo in Victoria’s north is Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy – an honour bestowed in 2019 thanks to the local producers and growers in the area.
So the city and its surrounding towns are particularly well known for making stomachs sing.
This spring a number of celebrations showcasing the region’s delicious food and wine will include Bendigo Wine Week on October 13.
Running until October 22, the week is a collection of 10 events being held around the region.
It includes a day of live music on October 14 in the gardens of Chateau Dore Winery. Paired with the wines from Mandurang Valley Winery, this is relaxed day not to be missed.
The Heritage and Hidden Spaces Wine Walk in Bendigo has already sold out. Photo: Bendigo Tourism
For something entirely different, try wine tasting while watching a movie about wine. Held at Eaglehawk’s Star Cinema with wine supplied by Sandhurst Ridge Winery, viewers will watch From the Wine.
Valentine’s Antique Gallery will also be hosting a night of wine tasting amid the latest spring artworks by resident artist Helena Richardson-Collins. Wine related antique memorabilia will also be on display.
Earlier in the month, there’s the Heathcote Wine and Food Festival at the Heathcote Showgrounds.
Held on October 7 and 8, visitors will be treated to a family-friendly village setting where they can sample new-release and award-winning wines, grab a bite to eat, enjoy live music by Bendigo Blues & Roots, lawn games and kids entertainment.
Bring along your furry friends to the Vegecareian Festival, Bendigo. Photo: Bendigo Tourism
October really is the month to visit Bendigo with the Vegecareian Festival also taking place on October 14.
This unique family-friendly event is all about loving food, animals and life. Enjoy vegetarian cooking demonstrations and sample vegetarian dishes from all over the world.
You can even bring along your furry friends and get them blessed by a monk inside The Great Stupa, which is at Myers Flat just outside Bendigo and is the largest Buddhist temple in the western world.
For more information on these events, take a look at Bendigo’s Bloom spring program here.