Pyrenees Unearthed 2017 Pocket Guide

t e k c o P Image courtesy Taltarni

GUIDE

TAke a journey of the senses to a destination off the mainstream tourist track AND discover Pyrenees Unearthed 2017.

Set against a backdrop of the picturesque Pyrenees wine region in the heart of Victoria, the festival brings together a unique blend of wine, art and beautiful open gardens as well as the iconic Avoca Races.

The five day festival will provide plenty to do for families, wine, art and garden lovers, and for the budget savvy with campsites available at the Avoca Racecourse for just $15 per night across the entire ANZAC Day long weekend.

The weekend program includes a Hawker Market at The Avoca, Avoca Art Exhibition & Sale, ‘Taltarni’ Gala Awards Ceremony, Mount Mitchell Estate Garden Event, Chinese Garden Tours, Avoca Riverside Markets, Avoca Wine Festival, “Tour de Pyrenees” Cellar Doors, Bonfire & Movie Night, ANZAC Day Dawn Services and the ANZAC Day Races.

Plus explore the magnificent Pyrenees Ranges and villages.

So take a trip down a road less travelled and fall in love with a region ready to be discovered at Pyrenees Unearthed.

FRIDAY 21 APRIL Hawker Market at The Avoca A night of street food, boutique beers and live music 115 High Street, Avoca Begin your journey to unearth the Pyrenees at The Avoca. Join the award-winning hotel as they set up a hawker market on High Street, serving internationally inspired street food to patrons and pedestrians.

SATURDAY 22 APRIL Mount Mitchell Estate Garden Event 10am -5pm, Mount Mitchell Estate 3056 Sunraysia Highway, Lexton $10pp | U/18: Gold Coin Donation – Tickets available at the gate on the day.

With a glass of local wine in hand, enjoy a display of historic vehicles, art and photography all while exploring the grounds of this magnificent homestead.

Grab a bite to eat, let the kids have a play and partake in ticketed workshops including ‘Culinary Artist’ Peter Ford, Ballarat Photography’s, Peter Kervarec and masterclasses with Taltarni Vineyards.

Estate tours conducted on the hour from 11am - 4pm.

Visit pyreneesunearthedfestival.com.au for details.

SUNDAY 23 APRIL Avoca Riverside Markets 9am – 5pm, Avoca Riverflats, Dundas Street, Avoca Free market The Avoca Riverside Markets are located on the banks of the Avoca River providing a tranquil environment to enjoy meandering around 50 stalls.

Browse a variety of artisan goods, including crafts, fresh food, soaps, candles, plants, jewelery and more, on your way to the Avoca Wine Festival.

Avoca Art Exhibition & Sale Saturday, Sunday & Monday 11am – 4pm (Mon 3pm), Avoca Town Hall $5pp | U/18: Free – Tickets available on the day.

Artists from near and far showcase and sell their work across the three day event. With categories ranging from Best Picture at Show, a themed Grape or Wine award, an acquisitive award as well as children and youth awards, the Art Exhibition offers visitors a veritable treasure of creative material.

Taltarni Art Show Gala Awards 6.30pm, Avoca Town Hall $25pp. Limited tickets are available.

To book contact artsavoca@gmail.com or call 0439 462 344.

This Gala event will see prizes totaling over $4,500 awarded. Ticket includes locally produced wine and finger-food.

Avoca Art & Gardens Precinct Saturday to Tuesday 10am – 4pm, Avoca Rail Station, Gallery 127 Gallery 127, the Station’s redesigned space created to celebrate local and regional artists across the wide spectrum of artistic display, also enables art lovers to enjoy the latest showings. This includes a one man exhibition by national & internationally renowned landscape artist Mal Gilmour. The precinct also features a community garden centre located on the platform.

AVOCA WINE FESTIVAL 11am – 5pm, Avoca Riverflats, Dundas Street, Avoca $25pp - Early Bird Tasting Ticket by 16 April ($30pp at gates or after 16 April ) General admission and pre-purchase tickets at pyreneesunearthedfestival.com.au Located along the banks of the Avoca River, the festival will have plenty to drink, eat and do. With a French picnic atmosphere and plenty of entertainment including Live Music, FREE Kids’ Activities, Petanque, a visit from Bendigo’s Chinese Lion Dancers, Games as well as a rare wine auction of in-demand aged Pyrenees wines there is something for all ages.

Your ticket will provide a tasting pass to unearth wines from seventeen local wineries in your own souvenir Pyrenees Unearthed glass.

Craft beer and cider will also be on offer. So bring a picnic blanket or deck chair and discover your piece of France in the heart of Victoria.

Masterclass - Theme: Pyrenees Shiraz 2013 Winemakers from Blue Pyrenees Estate, Dalwhinnie, Sally’s Paddock M.Chapoutier, Dog Rock and Taltarni Vineyards will showcase glasses of Pyrenees Shiraz from 2013 in this year’s Masterclass. $60pp Tasting Ticket + 1 hour Masterclass Pre-purchase only. Strictly limited numbers apply.

MONDAY 24 APRIL Avoca Chinese Garden 1pm – 3pm Avoca Riverflats, Dundas Street Gold coin donation. Visit pyreneesunearthedfestival.com.au for details.

Take a stroll through the ‘Garden of Fire and Water’; a contemporary Chinese garden in an Australian environment that acknowledges the importance of the Chinese immigrants especially during the gold rush era. Relax and experience the garden’s many features including the pavilion, wetland, immense boulders and diverse plants. Guided tours: 1pm, 2pm & 3pm.

‘Tour de Pyrenees’ Cellar Doors From rich and fragrant reds to elegant whites and sparkling wines, the wines from the Pyrenees are a wine lover’s delight. Select the various wineries you’d like to explore and ‘Tour de Pyrenees’ Cellar Doors.

See overleaf for details.

‘TOUR DE PYRENEES’ CELLAR DOORS - Monday 24 APRIL Bookings are essential at many of the ‘Tour de Pyrenees’ Cellar Doors. To secure your place and for further details on any of these, and other wineries visit pyreneesunerathedfestival.com.au 1

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EQUUS @ Moonambel Wine & Wooden Horses $10pp for entry to the Museum and Gallery Bookings essential (*max.10 people per session).

Taste EQUUS wines (maker Owen Latta) with Vigneron John Kirkpatrick. View over 50 antique wooden horses from the EQUUS Collection. Learn about their history, makers and restoration from internationally recognised expert Patricia Mullins at *12noon, *2pm ,*4pm. See her original illustrations of Phar Lap and other horses from award-winning picture books.

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Mount Avoca, Moates Lane, Avoca Relax amongst the vines to the enchanting sounds of the Handpan, with wine and Free BBQ, 11am - 5pm.

Charity Gold Coin donation for Victorian Dog Rescue Group Join Mount Avoca on a mesmerising musical journey paired with award-winning wine. Christian Bianco performs world percussion on the Handpan, creating a mystical sound sculpture of bewitching melodies and percussive qualities. Reminiscent of the steel drums of Trinidad, the sound is hypnotic and soothing, invoking influences from Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Middle East.

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Sally’s Paddock at Redbank Winery Lunch, Live Music & Meet the Winemakers. $75pp. 12-3pm.

Numbers are strictly limited. Bookings essential.

To celebrate 40 years of Cellar Door we invite you to join us for a rare opportunity to sample back vintages of the iconic Sally’s Paddock and specialty lunch with Neill Robb (owner/chief winemaker), Sally Robb (owner) and Sasha Robb, third generation winemaker to discuss the idiosyncrasies of a few select vintages spanning the decades.

“The Big Slider Bar” at Dalwhinnie Bookings essential: Call 03 5467 2388 or enquiries@dalwhinnie.com.au David Jones and the team at Dalwhinnie will be presenting “The Big Slider Bar” with the best Wagu beef burgers you are likely to eat in the Pyrenees Region. Select a glass of Dalwhinnie’s finest Shiraz or Cabernet to compliment your burger – special museum wines available. Come and enjoy the food, wine and music at this unique location!

Dog Rock Winery, Crowlands Wine Vs Beer $55pp Bookings essential.

Let winemaker Allen Hart and Red Duck’s brewer Scott Wilson-Browne convince you that their wine or beer is best suited to a selection of canapés. Limited to 24 people, a fun afternoon is assured with a drink upon arrival, five-course canapé luncheon with matched beverages and a prize for the most ‘French’ dressed person.

St Ignatius Vineyard, Lamplough The Trial of Malbec - From France to St Ignatius - $15pp Cellar door open from 10am – 5pm Discover how this French world class varietal found a new home in the Pyrenees -- just like us. Enjoy a hosted degustation of our acclaimed Gold Medal Contemplation Malbec perfectly matched with a home-made Argentine Empanada. Offer available until sold out. Don’t miss it!

Blue Pyrenees Estate, Avoca Sparkling Wine Masterclass. $35pp.

Answering all of the questions you’ve always wanted to ask, Blue Pyrenees Estate’s chief winemaker Andrew Koerner will take guests through the methode traditionelle sparkling wine-making process, giving a rare insight into how Australia’s first World Champion Sparkling wine is made. Finish with sparkling wine-paired share plates of local produce for lunch.

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8 Taltarni Vineyard, Moonambel Traditional French in the new Pyrenees.

Tasting $10. Cheese Platter $25 Experience a rare wine tasting from Taltarni’s sister French winery, Domaine de Nizas, while enjoying a French inspired cheese platter all within a themed cellar door designed to celebrate the relationship between the two wine regions.

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Warrenmang Vineyard & Resort, Moonambel Gourmet Two-Course meal includes a Glass of Wine, only $60 for Two! Plus a VIP 20% Wine Purchase card.

Cellar Door Family Weekend Cellar door 10am -5pm Normal cellar tastings free $10 @ Cellar Door - a tasting plate + a glass of wine + outdoor games

10 Wimmera Hills Winery, Glenpatrick Guided tasting of Chocolate paired with Wine 11am, 1pm, 3:00pm. $25pp.

Featuring Australian & French made chocolates individually paired with great Pyrenees wine. Our winemaker guides your taste buds across the varied landscape of local and specially imported chocolates. The tour of discovery will take you around 50 minutes, after which you can enjoy a light meal, or a quick game of petanque.

Monday Evening 24 April Tapas at The Avoca, 115 High Street, Avoca Nine course tapas menu. $49pp. 6:30pm.

End your tour of the Pyrenees at The Avoca with a ninecourse tapas menu. Taking out the top Golden Plate award in 2016, The Avoca is a regional eating experience on many a bucket list. This is a Booking Only event.

Call 03 5465 3018 to secure a table.

MONDAY 24 APRIL

STAY

Bonfire & Movie Night

Camping & Glamping at the Avoca Racecourse

6pm – 9pm, Avoca Racecourse Camping Ground Gold Coin Donation. Pizza & popcorn available. Drinks at bar prices.

Bookings required at countryracing.com.au/avoca

$15 per campsite per night. (2 adults + up to 4 children) Unpowered sites only.

The relaxed festival vibe will continue into the night around a bonfire at the Avoca Racecourse. Entertainment includes two classic movies on the big screen. Kids can enjoy making their very own drive-in vehicle out of a cardboard box during the day (2-5pm) ready to enjoy the movies with marshmallows, glow sticks and pop-up games room access.

1 – 5 night bookings available Fri 21 – Wed 26 April.

TUESDAY 25 APRIL ANZAC Day Dawn Service

Wanderlust Glamping $156 per tent per night (2 people). Min 3 nights.

Campers can access showers, tea room & pop up games room.

Pyrenees Unearthed offers a journey for the senses. And there is no better way to experience this long weekend away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life than by camping at the beautiful Avoca Racecourse located at the foothills of the Pyrenees.

With camping and ‘Wanderlust Glamping’ available at the Avoca Racecourse across the entire ANZAC Day long weekend, it’s the ideal base to experience the Pyrenees region.

Dawn & 9:15am, Avoca Cenotaph, High Street, Avoca,

To Book:

The Avoca RSL will hold a dawn service and breakfast at the Avoca Cenotaph as well as a commemoration service at 9:15am.

Book online at countryracing.com.au/avoca

Getting There Revolution Print ANZAC Day Races 11:00am - 6:30pm, Avoca Racecourse $15pp | $13pp early bird (by 22 April) | U/16 Free Hospitality Packages available.

To book visit countryracing.com.au/avoca Join the Avoca Shire Turf Club as they continue to mark 100 years since Australia and New Zealand’s involvement in the First World War. Swap your fascinator for a sunhat or your suit & tie for shorts & shirt and relax with: • Country thoroughbred racing at its finest • Local Wine Village • 2UP by the Avoca RSL (sponsored by Astbury Welding & Contracting) • The Last Post by Ian Stares • World War II Ex-Military Vehicles

Centrally located, the Pyrenees Region is within easy reach. It is an enjoyable 2 hour drive from Melbourne and Geelong, just over an hour from Bendigo and the Wimmera, only 1 hour’s drive from both Ballarat and Halls Gap. Transport and Accommodation Options For accommodation and transport options visit pyreneesunearthedfestival.com.au ANZAC Day Races Bus Services FREE return race day buses operate will operate from Avoca, Ballarat and Maryborough. Limited numbers apply.

For more details and to book visit countryracing.com.au/avoca

• Collingwood vs Essendon broadcast throughout the racecourse • The Great Avoca Grape competition • Band ‘Untapped Duo’ • FREE kids’ activities by Kelly Sports

DOWNLOAD THE AVOCA RACES APP AND YOU COULD

WIN

TICKETS & MARQUEE AT THE 2017 AVOCA CUP

For TICKET SALES AND MORE INFORMATION please visit pyreneesunearthedFESTIVAL.com.au

The individual events of Pyrenees Unearthed are made possible by the following sponsors and supporters:

It’s a Great Day Out

®

It’s a Great Day Out

®

Avoca Wine Festival acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.

Contacts: www.pyreneesunearthedfestival.com.au Avoca Visitor Information Centre (03) 5465 1000 info@pyreneesunearthedfestival.com.au

Pyrenees Unearthed

@pyreneesunearthed

An Oregional Collective event. 0402 997 926