River Graze returns

The 25th Melbourne Food and Wine Festival returns on March 31, with Southbank set to yet again play host to the event’s opening weekend as part of River Graze.

Running from March 31 to April 2, this year’s River Graze festival will once again see the Yarra River transformed into a food and wine lover’s playground, bursting with culinary hot spots, free entertainment and regional flavours.

River Graze will feature more than 60 stallholders, food trucks, producers and Victorian wineries stretched over a kilometre from Federation Square to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Staged along the banks of the Yarra, River Graze celebrates the role Melbourne’s water plays in the city’s thriving food culture, and this year, the fun will literally spill onto the river itself.

The world’s largest floating fruit bowl will highlight how the water is the secret to Melbourne’s culinary successes, with fruit stickers stating what percentage of each item is made up of Melbourne water.

Cooking demonstrations at Queensbridge Square’s Culinary Village will feature Network Ten’s MasterChef alumni, Justine Scofield, Dani Venn, Philip Vakos, Matt Sinclair plus Burch and Purchese’s Darren Purchese on Saturday and Sunday.

Beer and cider lovers will revel in South Wharf Craft Beer Weekend and Southgate Cider Orchard, with the best Australian brews from the country’s artisan producers.

River Graze will kick off on Friday from 4pm till late, while opening hours on Saturday and Sunday will be 12pm till late.

There is a whole lot more on offer for all ages and appetites! Find out more at melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/river-graze-presented-by-melbourne-water