With warm autumn weather and plenty of locals and tourists out and about over the long weekend, this year’s Tastes of Rutherglen festival proved for the umpteenth time why Rutherglen does it best when it comes to fine food and wine celebrations.
More than 2,000 visitors and locals flocked to this year’s two-day event over the Victorian Labour Day long weekend to enjoy the region’s award-winning wines, produce and cuisine from 16 Rutherglen wineries.
With more than 200 wines to taste, curated menus at each winery, several masterclasses to attend, plus a series of special events, the 2024 Tastes of Rutherglen offered the unique chance for attendees to speak to the region’s winemakers directly- connecting wine lovers’ curiosity with winemakers’ craft.
The festival officially kicked off on March 8 with the "A Welcome Wine" event at The Victoria Hotel's Garden Room. Guests were indulged in a curated selection of regional treats while mingling with local vintners and fellow wine aficionados.
The evening set the stage for a weekend filled with tasting experiences, masterclasses, and exclusive events that highlight the rich tapestry of Rutherglen's wine culture.
Attendees were also treated to a range of unique experiences, including the opportunity to taste rare and vintage wines from the Rutherglen winemakers' cellars, cheese-making, and even cocktail making, providing something for everyone.
Among the further highlights were the masterclasses and special events held across the whole weekend including the Traditional Sparkling Masterclass and Portuguese Varietal Exploration which provided deep dives into specific wine styles and regions, the Harvest Dinner and the GATHER by KIN event which had mouths watering as exquisite meals were paired with outstanding wines.
Pfeiffer Wines were once again thrilled to welcome guests to the region to enjoy the exceptional food and wine produce.
“What a wonderful and colourful day we had in the grounds of Robyn and Chris’ private gardens painting Ti Amo Rutherglen on Sunday,” a facebook post by Pfeiffer Wines read.
“Despite the warm weather, we were blessed by the shade and dappled light of trees much older than us all.
“It was really nice to welcome some of our regulars as well as newcomers to the region. We had a steady flow of people and good numbers on both Saturday and Sunday.
“We had a lovely weekend.”
Over at All Saints Estate the popular Dinner in the Vines was reimagined with the brand new event GATHER hosting 100 guests marking the conclusion of Tastes of Rutherglen.
Guests were treated to the atmospheric cask hall where melodies weaved through the air as KIN Executive Chef Jack Cassidy guided the guests on a journey from farm fields to fine dining.
Each dish was ‘fit for a king’ and was meticulously crafted to be paired with wines from winemaker Nick Brown.
“What a great day the first day was. Then a heartfelt thank you to all who indulged in our culinary celebration on the Sunday night,” a post from All Saints read.
“Guests savoured a feast fit for the season from smoked kangaroo tartare with black garlic to pumpkin with fermented honey.
“This accompanied by wines including back vintages from Nick’s personal cellar.
“It was so much fun that we might just have to do it all again next year.”