And wine lovers have lapped up the opportunities to get 'behind the scenes', with the barrel tasting weekend fully booked.

The two-day event provides opportunities for people who wouldn't usually have the privilege of sampling wine straight from the barrel to do so and to learn more about the art of making a top drop.

Bendigo Winegrowers Association president Wes Vine, of Mandurang Valley Wines, said there had been a significant increase in interest in the Barrel Tasting Weekend this year.

A number of factors were believed to have contributed, including a growing awareness of the region's wine.

Mr Vine said word of Bendigo's Barrel Tasting Weekend was also spreading.

Killiecrankie Wines has been involved in the event for four years. The winery's owner, John Monteath, said the event was great promotion for the region's wines.

It also gave people an insight into how the year's vintage was made, and how that compared with last year's vintage both in the barrel and in the bottle.

Mr Monteath said events like the barrel tasting weekend were not something winemakers could do all the time.

He said barrel tasting weekends in Bendigo were generally small and intimate, and attendees were generally being guided by the winery owner or winemaker.

"People really like the experience," Mr Monteath said.

He even had people opting to spend the day at the Killiecrankie Wines cellar door, with a picnic lunch packed and a fire pit prepared for their afternoon.

Other wineries involved in this year's barrel tasting weekend include Balgownie Estate, Sandhurst Ridge Winery, Sutton Grange Winery, BlackJack Wines and Connor Park Winery.

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