Anther Geelong Distillery 05 Mar 2025
Sip, Savour and Celebrate: Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Is Heading to Geelong and the Bellarine

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Visit Geelong Bellarine

Discover the world-class food and drink offerings of Geelong and The Bellarine this month, as the region hosts multiple events as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (MFWF).

This year's program of gastronomic delights features 10 different events happening throughout the Geelong and The Bellarine area. From exclusive maker and grower tasting experiences at Davidson Restaurant, to a scenic degustation on the The Q Train, and a moonlit feast at Lancemore Mansion Werribee Park, each event is designed to celebrate local produce and culinary talent.

Other highlights include an orchard dinner at Tuckerberry Farm, a lamb and gin barbecue at Rothwell Distillery, and a foraging adventure and feast at TARRA Queenscliff. Cocktail-lovers can indulge in curated experiences at Anther Distillery, while Meredith Farm offers a paddock-to-plate capretto feast.

Tracy Carter, Executive Director of Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine, said 2025 marks one of the biggest years yet for the region's involvement in the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.

“We are incredibly excited to have so many local events feature within the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival 2025 program – all of which showcase our vibrant and diverse food and drink scene.”

“We have so much on offer when it comes to a foodie destination, from cool-climate wines and fresh coastal seafood to farm-to-table dining experiences, artisan brewers and more. We can't wait to showcase this to visitors from near and far.”

“With so many events on offer, we encourage visitors to make a weekend, or longer, out of it, by booking multiple events and exploring our many amazing eateries, wineries, breweries and distilleries. We have plenty of fantastic accommodation options to choose from too, suitable for all budgets, from stylish city stays to charming coastal retreats,” said Ms Carter.

Geelong and The Bellarine based Melbourne Food & Wine Festival events as follows (in date order):

Taste of Geelong, Bellarine, and Beyond, Davidson Restaurant, Geelong – Friday 21 March
Experience the Geelong and Bellarine region's finest produce at this exclusive tasting event, where acclaimed local chefs, including Masterchef alumni Simon Toohey, and emerging culinary talent craft an unforgettable four-course shared dinner with paired wine tastings. Meet the artisan producers, hear their inspiring stories, and learn about the origins of your food within this historic landmark venue.  

An Enchanted Orchard Evening, Tuckerberry Farm, Drysdale – Friday 21 March
Enjoy a two-course dinner in the orchards of The Bellarine's Tuckerberry Farm, featuring local produce, acoustic music, chats with the farmers and on-site brewer, and a guided orchard stroll.

Five Cocktails to Try Before You Die, Anther Geelong Distillery, North Geelong – Saturday 22 March
Explore the world of cocktails like never before, guided by cocktail history buff Sebastian Reaburn. Join him at Geelong's award-winning Anther Distillery for a curated selection of drinks that have stood the test of time. 

The You Yangs Feast: a Lamb and Gin Barbecue, Rothwell Distillery, Little River – 22&23 March, 29&30 March
Savour succulent lamb outside Rothwell Distillery's 100-year-old shearing shed as Chef Bart Beek (Essence BBQ Lab) showcases Australia's favourite meat over six courses, paired with botanicals and cocktails by head distiller Tim Smith.

The Q Train x Merne Express, Drysdale – Monday 24 March
Hop aboard The Q Train for a three-hour culinary adventure along the historic Bellarine Railway. Led by Q Train chef Sean Street, alongside Josh Smith and Caleb Fleet from Merne at Lighthouse, the degustation menu will showcase the best of Geelong, Bellarine, and the Otways, paired with local wines. Stop at Queenscliff Station for live music from The Blues Train and tastings from FarmDog Brewing and Bellarine Distillery.

Botanicals of Geelong and the Bellarine Dinner, Songbird, Geelong – Thursday 27 March
Songbird and Anther Distillery unite for a dinner celebrating the best flavours of the region. Enjoy a feast of grilled meats, pickles, and smoky delights from Songbird, the acclaimed and hatted northern Thai eatery by the Igni team. Anther will expertly pair cocktails with each of the four courses. Plus, Anther's Dervilla McGowan and Sebastian Reaburn will collaborate with chef Nathan Lancaster to craft an exclusive spirit, which guests can take home as a souvenir.

A Taste of Capretto: From Paddock to Plate, Meredith Farm Produce Café, Meredith – Friday 28 March
Join the Meredith Dairy family for a multi-course lunch of traditional Italian capretto in their newly opened café and store in the heart of Meredith. This event will spotlight the paddock-to-plate journey, with a special focus on the exceptional dairy capretto.

The Hidden History of Geelong and the Bellarine, Anther Distillery, North Geelong – Friday 28 March
Join Anther Geelong Distillery for a cocktail journey through the region's history and flavours. Head distiller Dervilla McGowan will collaborate with local producers to share tastings matched with cocktails by Sebastian Reaburn.

Moonlight Degustation at the Mansion, Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park – Saturday 29 March
Set in the awe-inspiring forecourt of the Lancemore Mansion Hotel, this five-course degustation will be lit by the stars, candles and the moon. A luxurious evening of culinary magic in a breathtaking setting.

(SOLD OUT) Forage to Feast, TARRA Queenscliff – Saturday 29 March
Head off on a guided walk with TARRA's Executive Chef and team, discovering how foraged ingredients like saltbush and kelp from Port Phillip Bay shape the menu. Then, enjoy a four-course share-style dinner showcasing locally sourced and foraged produce.

To discover more about Geelong and The Bellarine, go to visitgeelongbellarine.com.au

For the full Melbourne Food & Wine Festival program, go to Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

About Melbourne Food & Wine Festival:
Founded in 1993, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival has grown from a modest offering of 12 events to an internationally recognised program of more than 400 events across the breadth of Melbourne, as well as satellite events around the state of Victoria. Some are epic spectacles with tens of thousands of guests; others are hands-on or bespoke engagements on a more intimate scale.

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