GOURMET food festival Tastes of Rutherglen returns within weeks with a more flexible ticketing approach.
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This year participants do not need to buy a food ticket and can instead use cash or card to pay for meals at 19 participating wineries.
Admission tickets, which cover entry to wineries, festival glass and live entertainment over the weekend-long festival, can be bought online or on the day.
The annual Winemakers of Rutherglen event will present masterclasses, special events, food and wine matches, live music and children’s activities on March 11 and 12.
Buller Wines will host an evening of music, food, wine, playful wine cocktails and boutique beer on March 11.
Musicians will belt out the hits of yesteryear and today on the lawns from 7pm until 10.30pm.
Pfeiffer Wines will present a memorable experience on Sunday Creek bridge catered by chef Adam Pizzini, of Rinaldo’s Casa Cucina.
The dinner on March 11 runs from 7.30pm until 11pm.
Jones Winery and Vineyard will host a Food, Wine, Taste session at 10am both days.
Participants will learn how food can change the flavour profile of a wine.
Campbells Wines will offer a muscat cocktail masterclass at 11am both days.
People can test their mixology skills with the world’s richest wine, all wrapped up in a Riedel glass to keep.
Lake Moodemere Estate will host private tastings with sixth generation wine producer Michael Chambers throughout the weekend.
It will include a full range of single vineyard wines and exclusive back vintages.
Winemaker Damien Cofield and Hurdle Creek Gin co-owner Simon Brooke-Taylor will host a wine and gin mixology masterclass at 3pm both days.
Participants will discover new trends of mixing wine and spirits and find their new favourite cocktail combination.
Stanton and Killeen Wines will host a Portuguese Masterclass to focus on alternative varieties at 2pm both days.
There will be a guided tasting of sparkling tempranillo, rose, The Prince, vintage port and two new releases.
Bookings are essential for masterclasses and special events.
Rutherglen Farmers’ Market will be held on March 12 from 9am until noon.
Festival admission tickets can be bought on the day at any participating winery or the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre.
The Winery Shuttle Bus is a hop on/hop off bus that goes between all 19 wineries. Tickets are $27 a day.
There is also a complimentary wine check-in service on the buses.