Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Hits the Open Road with Regional Roadtrip

Hit the road, follow the flavour and meet the makers shaping Victoria’s food scene.

If your idea of a food adventure involves rolling hills, seaside breezes and wine glasses catching the golden afternoon light, then Victoria’s culinary pilgrimage this March has your name written all over it. The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2026 isn’t just taking over the city — it’s hitting the highways and byways of regional Victoria for the Regional Roadtrip, a deliciously expansive program celebrating the makers, growers and storytellers behind some of the state’s best food and drink.

Presented by Polestar with support from La Trobe Financial and City of Melbourne, the Roadtrip sends festival goers on a flavour quest across vineyards, coastal towns, farms and wineries between 20–29 March. Think long lunches in lush valleys, seafood feasts by the sea, and chef-driven dinners in places you’ve always meant to visit. It’s a chance to meet the people crafting our food culture — not just taste their work.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Regional Roadtrip

When: 20 – 29 March 2026

Keep up to date with the latest in food and drinks across regional Victoria here.

 

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Vineyards, Long Lunches and Fire-Kissed Feasts

The Yarra Valley sets the tone this year with events like Yum Cha, Wine Flight and Tour, a playful mash-up of yum cha favourites paired with local vintages, along with On The Palate at Healesville Racecourse, where boutique wines meet artisanal producers for a day of sipping and snacking. Harvest season lovers will gravitate toward You Yangs Feast: Spirit, Elixir, Fire at Rothwell Distillery, a celebration of food cooked over flames, distilled delights and the kind of theatrical flair that makes a meal unforgettable.

For a full vineyard immersion, Peninsula Harvest Deep Dive at Morning Sun Vineyard unfolds across three days, inviting guests to wander, taste and bask in coastal terroir, community pride and views so gorgeous they practically count as a wellness retreat.

Seaside Spreads and Regional Revelations

Seafood takes centre stage at Connect to the Coast in Queenscliff, where the ocean provides both the backdrop and the menu inspiration. Fresh local catches, coastal wines and harbour scenery combine for a quintessential seaside feast. Iconic Pt. Leo Estate also throws a major curveball with its Chin Chin Weekend Takeover, transforming the Peninsula into a hub of bold, punchy flavours and boundary-pushing dishes.

For those who chase the quirky and unconventional, Cheesy Zoe’s at Trapeze at Six J’s Estate promises a countryside pizza party with fire ovens, visiting chefs and a whole lot of personality. Meanwhile, Forage and Fire on Phillip Island blends a guided bush walk with a fire-cooked feast, grounding the meal in the stories and ingredients of the land itself.

Farm Table Feasts and Slow-Burn Magic

Farm-fresh dining gets its moment at Messmates Dining Presents: Mezze With Mates at McIntosh Farm, offering communal tables, generous platters and flavours that show just how good seasonal produce can be. Meredith takes that paddock-to-plate philosophy even further with Cooking and Eating Goat, where humble ingredients shine under the guidance of a chef ready to rewrite expectations.

Dessert lovers aren’t left behind either. Dessert, Wine and Art Inspired by the Bellarine at Marthadale Winery serves up sweet courses, local wines and artistic inspiration — a trio designed for lingering long after the final bite.

Victoria’s Regional Roadtrip is more than a festival program; it’s an invitation to explore the places where flavours are born. Whether you’re planning a full weekend escape or a spontaneous day trip with friends, these events offer the chance to eat where the ingredients grow, meet the people who nurture them, and discover the landscapes that shape every glass and plate.

Tickets are on sale now, and many events are already filling fast. Pack a bag, pick your route and let the flavours of regional Victoria lead the way.

All information and ticketing can be found here.