Masterclasses - Grampians Grape Escape

From the Scoop on Icecream to getting your fingers dirty with Captain Compost, or the One Pot Wonder of Tagine to the Dos and Don’ts of wine, with our favourite Frenchman, Loïc Le Calvez…get the most of your festival experience, sit back and learn from our expert exhibitors.

MC’d by Freelance food writer and founder of Turnip Media, Hilary McNevin, Masterclasses are free for all to attend, but for an intimate educational experience, add on a Workshop while purchasing your tickets for an extra $49pp.

SAT 5 MAY – Country Plaza Hotel Masterclass Marquee

LIVING WITH A FINGER ON THE PULSE

Rupanyup Living & Wimmera Grain Store

10.30am – 11.00am

Hear from two women of the Wimmera, learn about the region’s pulse industry, how chickpeas and lentils can be used, their health benefits and the rewards that come from choosing a country lifestyle.

OFFICIAL WELCOME & OPENING

Grampians Grape Escape Board & Partners

11.00am – 11.30am

Join Chairman of the Grampians Grape Escape board, Kevin Erwin and board members plus Christine Couzens MP and VIP guests to officially open the festival and learn about how your ticket helps an entire region. All attendees will receive a pack of Grampians playing cards ready for your next wine and cards night.

FROM OLIVE TO OIL

Red Rock Olives, Mount Zero Olives & Grampians Olive Co.

12.30pm – 1.00pm

Learn about the Olive to Oil process, health benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and discover tips to DIY olives including tree maintenance and marinade recipes.

DO’S & DONT’S OF WINE

Guest speaker, Loïc Le Calvez from Wine Truth

1.45pm – 2.15pm

A masterclass for those wanting the best from their wine experience. Learn about glassware, decanting, how to store wine, how to keep an open bottle, tasting wine, how to support local and all about this year’s Barrique.

GRAMPIANS WINEMAKERS BARRIQUE AUCTION

2.15pm – 2.45pm

The highly anticipated annual Grampians Winemakers Reserve Shiraz Barrique Auction is on again. Always a hit with wine connoisseurs and a major fundraiser for the winemakers, be one of the winning bidders lucky enough to take home a rare ‘taste of the Grampians.’

ONE POT WONDER

Yum Catering, Lamb Tagine

3.45pm – 4.15pm

Those keen to learn about the One Pot Wonder that is Tagine and take these skills home should lock this away. With incredible aroma and sumptuous spices, it will become a regular meal the whole family will love!

GIN’S OUR THING

Kilderkin Distillery

5.00pm – 5.30pm

All things gin will be covered from origins to the recent increased interest. Become skilled in the various styles of gin available, mixing and garnish ideas and enjoy tastings of Kilderkin’s small batch gins.

SUN 6 MAY – Country Plaza Hotel Masterclass Marquee

WHAT’S THE SCOOP?

Timboon Fine Ice Cream

10.30am – 11.00am

These days you can’t be too sure about what you’re buying, so get the full scoop on Ice Cream in this fun masterclass. Bring the kids for blind ice-cream tastings and learn the whys and hows from an Ice Creamer since 1999, Tim Marwood.

BUSY AS COLLABORATING BEES

3 Bees, Blackpod, Taltarni, Southern Bay Brew Co

11.45am – 12.15pm

Come try Vanilla Oatmeal Stout and chat to the producers, brewer and winemaker and learn how collaboration with other small businesses can help you get ahead, and maintain the integrity of your product.

MY COMPOST RULES

Grampians Central West Waste & Resource Recovery Group

1.30pm – 2.00pm

Get dirty and join Captain Compost to learn all about the do’s and dont’s of composting and being a worm farmer. You can even BYO homemade compost for analysis. Love Food, Hate Waste and Inspire Change!

REDS OF THE REGION

Taltarni Vineyards, Grampians Estate & Dogrock Vineyard

2.15pm – 2.45pm

Take a tour of these regions with the winemakers including Tom from Grampians Estate and learn about the diversity and influences of the land and why our region’s wines are nothing short of spectacular. A valuable half hour to get to before you shop up at the end of the festival.

MULLING OVER WINE

Wimmera Hills Winery

3.30pm – 4.30pm

Could there be a better way to end an autumn weekend festival than with a Mulled Wine masterclass, served up with tastings and stories of family traditions?! Hear about the history and process of Mulled Wine and prepare for the winter ahead.