The world-renowned Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is back for its 27th year and the Macedon Ranges will be hosting a number of gastronomic events throughout the region in March.
With over 250 events this year across Victoria delivering fresh, seasonal produce and award-winning wine and spirits, the Macedon Ranges has the added advantage of its undulating landscapes and close proximity to the city.
Baringo Estate Executive Chef Tim Austin – who will be involved in two events this year – hopes the festival will attract more people to the region.
“For me there’s a lot of momentum happening in the Macedon region and it’ll be great to see it really take off,” he said.
“I’ve been working in this region for 10 years now and we’ve got some of the best wine, gin and produce.”
Glen Junor Belted Galloways farm will be hosting the ‘Regional World’s Longest Lunch’ in Gisborne where it will serve it a “Proactive Retrospective” lunch with dishes from the past and for the future.
Baringo Estate, Gisborne Collective and other favoured restaurants in the region will prepare the menu and match current and vintage wines from Bindi Windegrowers, Curly Flat and Hanging Rock.
“We’re looking backwards and forwards. Both Nathan (Owner, Gisborne Collective) and I have been chefs for decades and we are going to cook what’s now and juxtapose it against an old Bindi wine that is world class or a young wine from Curly Flat,” he said.
“The beautiful thing about that is we can use different generations of wines from Hanging Rock with father and son John and Rob.”
Gisborne Collective Owner Nathan Presley is looking forward to representing his signature dishes at the event.
“Our pizzas are some of the best in Australia. I’ve done a lot of traveling to New York and done a lot of research – I’m a perfectionist but I’m finally satisfied,” he said.
“I love doing lunch or dinner parties – good wine, good company and really good fun so I’m looking forward to it.”
Other events in the festival this year also include Spring Hill Estate’s Smoke, Fire and Water Family Day, Baringo Twilight Gintastic and The 5 B’s Great Long Lunch.
For more information on the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and Macedon Ranges events head to www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program
Great post 🙂