Step into the barrel halls of Bendigo wineries on the weekend of July 8 and 9 and you’ll discover the mystery and romance of the region’s winemaking, sampling wine straight from the barrel and getting to know the winemaker.
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Like eating cherries from the tree or bread just out of the oven, a visit to the barrel hall is tasting wine straight from the source. It’s the ultimate sneak preview of the magic happening in wine barrels and the chance to taste future releases before anyone else.
Sandhurst Ridge Winery is one of the wineries participating in Barrel Tasting weekend. Founded by brothers Paul, George, Silvano and John Greblo, whose roots in winemaking originate in Trieste Italy, the wine label has been winning accolades since its first vintage in 1995.
Winemaker Paul Greblo says that wine was something his family grew up with.
“We made wine at home, we tasted wines and talked about them. Wine was considered as essential as bread to living.
“Today I make wine because it is part of my lifestyle. I get a real buzz when people taste my wine and show their appreciation for the effort that goes into producing our handcrafted vintages.
“It’s the same for winemakers all through the Bendigo wine region. Most of the wineries are still run by the families that founded them,” Paul said.
The Bendigo Winegrowers Association started its Barrel Tasting weekend in 2015 and continues the tradition each July.
“We wanted to give people an intimate and personal experience into the mystery and romance of winemaking,” Bendigo Winegrowers Association President Wes Vine said.
“We have three tasting times at each participating winery and people can taste the wines that will make its way into bottles over the next 12 months.
“Wine is such a great thing to show how it’s produced from the ground up,” he said.
Participating wineries will hold tasting sessions at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on both days. There is no cost to attend, however numbers are limited. Book your barrel tasting session directly with each winery you would like to visit.
For booking information see the Bendigo Winegrowers website www.bendigowine.org.au.