A FEAST OF FESTIVALS

Australia is quite the food festival hotspot, with great gourmet gatherings scheduled throughout the year. Here’s what to circle on your culinary calendar right now.

Melbourne Cocktail Festival February – March

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The inaugural Melbourne Cocktail Festival (MCF), curated by Orlando Marzo, the 2018 World Class Global Bartender of the Year, will pull together a roster of workshops, guided tours, tastings, seminars and art installations across the city.The festival also features stellar guests such as Agostino Perrone and Giorgio Bargiani, of The Connaught Bar in London, winner of the ‘Best Bar in Europe’ at the 2019 World’s 50 Best Bars Award, and Paige Aubert, founder of Coleman’s Academy (a not-for-profit focused on empowering women in the bar industry). melbournecocktailfestival.io

Tastes of Rutherglen March

7–8

This year’s Tastes of Rutherglen program is set to be the biggest yet, with 19 Rutherglen wineries welcoming visitors to a line-up of events including: a Picnic by The Lake at Lake Moodemere Estate; an Indigenous Art Talk at De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate; Bubbles, Burgers & Beers at Cofield Wines; and a Sunday morning yoga session amid the gum trees at Scion.Tickets cost $20 per person, which includes access to all 19 wineries in the region, while non-drinking designated drivers get complimentary entry. tastesofrutherglen.com.au

Noosa Eat & Drink Festival May

14 –17

Some of Australia’s most celebrated chefs and producers will be in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast for its annual food festival in May.This year’s program will feature top Aussie chefs such as Ben Pollard, Scott Pickett, Louis Tikaram and Guy Grossi doing restaurant takeovers and special dinners, such as a Sri Lankan feast hosted by Rishi Naleendra, of Singapore’s Cloudstreet, and Peter Kuruvita at his Noosa Beach House restaurant.This year’s Long Lunch will be held in a magical location in Noosa Woods and the grand finale dinner will be hosted by Neil Perry and Corey Costelloe (Rockpool Bar + Grill), Matt Moran (Aria) and Will Cowper (Otto Brisbane). noosaeatdrinks.com.au