Fireside Yarra Valley 2023

Overview

UPDATE: June 14 2023, Face The Fire has sold out, but other Fireside Yarra Valley events still have available tickets.

The cooler months have many positives: cosy jumpers, nights spent by toasty fires, a greater inclination to drink bold reds — the list goes on. If you're in the mood to bask in all this winter warmth, Fireside Yarra Valley is the regional festival you want to know about. From Saturday, July 8 till Sunday, July 23, the wine-driven region will be hosting exclusive events aplenty.

Over 16 days, culinary pop-ups, chef collaborations and one-off dinners will be highlighting the deliciousness of cooking with flames. Wintry menus celebrating smoky dishes, chargrilled native ingredients and woodfired cooking — all of it backdropped by Melbourne's closest wine region.

One festival highlight is Face the Fire, a 60-person feast bringing together Movida's Frank Camorra and TarraWarra Estate's Joel Alderdice — delivering a duck paella to complement the winery's perfected pinot noir. Smoked kangaroo will kick off the night, with preserved beetroot and pepperberry elevating the roasted native meat. The Spanish rice will be cooked over flames for all to see, and there'll be a pine-mushroom version for any meat-averse. A washed rind encased in brioche, baked and topped with honey and quince, will see the night out — with a TarraWarra nebbiolo alongside. Tickets are $158 and are strictly limited.

On Sunday, July 9, Zackary Leon Furst (head chef at the favoured Melbourne spot Bar Liberty) will be joining forces with Joel Bowers for a five-course long lunch at No. 7 Healesville. Bowers will deliver all the fiery flavours he's known for at No. 7, with Furst adding all the pickles, ferments and preserves he can. Bar Liberty's signature cocktails will be gracing the Yarra Valley digs, and there will be rare natty bottles brought out of the cellar especially. The five-course meal will set you back $110, and the wine pairing another $65.

These two events are just the tip of the stellar lineup hitting the wine region this July. Grab your mates, peruse all that's on offer and get ready to lean into Yarra Valley's winter delights.

Fireside Yarra Valley takes over the region (and some select inner-city venues) from Saturday, July 8 till Sunday, July 23. To discover the full lineup and secure your tickets, head to the website.