It's not like you ever need much of an excuse to flee the city for a couple of days filled with wine, regional eats and entertainment. But hey, that's exactly what's calling you to jump in the car and head a few hours northwest of the city in May. Long-running flavour fest Grampians Grape Escape returns to Halls Gap Recreation Reserve from Friday, May 2–Sunday, May 4, dishing up yet another jam-packed program to mark its 32nd instalment. Sample hundreds of local craft beers, ciders and wines, and give your appetite a proper workout with food stalls slinging everything from woodfired pizza to paella. You can pick up some new skills at one of the weekend's many masterclasses, and learn culinary secrets at cooking demos led by the likes of Justine Schofield and Dani Venn. Visitors on Saturday can also join the Grampians Winemakers Barrique Auction, where one of the region's top shiraz blends is auctioned off in lots. If this is on your agenda, be sure to keep heaps of spare space in the boot of your car before heading up to the Grampians. Admission costs vary depending on which day(s) you'd like to visit, starting from $40 online. Bus transfers and local glamping options are also available.
