Celebrate Australian wine during Aussie Wine Month this May

This May marks the return of Aussie Wine Month, the country’s biggest annual celebration of Australian wine.

Now in its fifth year, Aussie Wine Month encourages wine drinkers to celebrate the exceptional quality and diversity of the wines made in their own backyard, and to share their Australian wine experiences and discoveries by including #AussieWineMonth in their social media posts.

Aussie Wine Month events will take place around the country, making it a great time to plan a wine weekend getaway, try a new wine style or explore the wines of some of Australia’s lesser known wine regions. With 65 Australian wine regions to choose from, there’s plenty for the wine lover to discover right on our doorstep.

A full list of Aussie Wine Month events including tastings, dinners, winery walks and festivals will be uploaded to www.aussiewinemonth.com in the lead-up to May. Events already confirmed include:

NSW

• The 2016 Upper Hunter Wine and Food Affair – Held in the high street of picturesque Denman in the Upper Hunter Valley. With more than 5,000 people expected to attend, join us for a fun-filled day for all the family including wine and food tasting, a vast array of kid’s activities and live entertainment. 7 May
• Taste and Learn with Martins Hill Wines – Meet the winemakers behind this organic and vegan friendly winery from Mudgee and learn more about their wines and winemaking ethos. Martins Hill Wines will host a stall at the Mudgee Farmers Market and the Pyrmont Festival. 7 and 21 May (Mudgee Farmers Market) and 14 and 15 May (Pyrmont Festival)
• Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival – Back and bigger than ever, the festival returns with many of our crowd-favourite events along with some exciting new additions. The festival showcases the Hunter region’s sophisticated wine and food culture with more than 70 epicurean events and activities including wine and food trails, vertical tastings, winery tours and cooking classes during May and June, so you’re sure to find something to suit your palate. Throughout May and June

VIC

• Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival – This is the ultimate pop-up cellar door where you can taste the flavours of the region from local wineries and regional food producers. Enjoy meticulously-crafted wines from local winegrowers, delectable regional produce and live music in the historic garden setting of Rosalind Park. Bring a picnic rug and celebrate Aussie Wine Month the heart of Bendigo. 7 May
• Sunraysia Cellar Door – Taste the wines of all 22 wine producers in the Murray-Darling wine region under the one roof in the heart of Mildura. There will be more than 250 wines available to taste every day throughout Aussie Wine Month. Throughout May

SA

• Coastal Foraging Experience – Staying in beachside accommodation in Robe, experience a weekend of epicurean adventure and indulgence with Rymill Coonawarra. The weekend will include foraging along Robe’s rugged coastline, helping to prepare your own three course lunch using the produce you’ve found and having a private winery tour and tasting at Rymill Coonawarra. 6–8 May
• Pizza e Local Heroes – Every Friday during Aussie Wine Month, Aldinga’s Fall From Grace wine bar will showcase local boutique wine producers and alternative varieties between 6–9pm matched to delicious wood-fired pizza. Every Friday throughout May
• Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend – The Clare Valley is home to Australia's original ‘Gourmet Weekend’ festival. Meet winemakers and learn first-hand what makes our wines and region so special. With more than 25 wineries participating enjoy some of Australia’s finest wines matched with regionally inspired cuisine against a backdrop of live music and the beautiful wine country landscape. 13–16 May

WA

• Ultimate Cabernet Experience – Voyager Estate will celebrate this classic grape variety with a weekend of masterclasses, vineyard tours, barrel tastings and a six-course lunch matched with rare back vintages and limited release wines. 14 and 15 May
• Ultimate Leeuwin Estate Degustation Experience – Your experience begins with morning tea alfresco on the verandah before you embark on a behind the scenes tour introducing the history and winemaking philosophy of Leeuwin Estate. A visit to our art gallery to view the unique collection of contemporary Australian artworks that feature on the labels of Leeuwin's premium 'Art Series' range is followed by a tutored tasting of selected Leeuwin Estate Art Series wines. The day will be capped off with a seasonal seven course degustation lunch menu accompanied by carefully matched Estate wines that will 'wow' even the most experienced diner. Every day throughout May

QLD

• Opera in the Vineyard at Ballandean – Opera in the Vineyard is a charity event held on the first weekend in May each year in the spectacular vineyards of Ballandean Estate Wines. The event is one of South East Queensland's premier cultural events, and the jewel of the Granite Belt's social calendar attracting up to 1,800 people each year and providing a night of music, wine, food and fun. 1 May 
• Grazing the Granite Belt – A wine and food event in the heart of Queensland’s premier wine region, the Granite Belt. Lazily graze your way through cellar doors tasting our amazing wines and sampling regional foods prepared by our talented local chefs and cooks. 21 and 22 May
• Moffatdale Ridge Tuscan Feast – Moffatdale Ridge’s winemaker will host you for a guided tasting of their estate grown wines. This will be followed by a Mediterranean feast matched to some of Queensland's finest wines accompanied by live entertainment. 22 May