Melbourne to celebrate food and wine in style

Putting together your 2026 food calendar?

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival returns next year with a Greek-themed "World’s Longest Lunch", a Cake Picnic and some top culinary talent heading to Victoria. 

The festival will run from March 20-29 with events being held across the state. 

"There is so much to be excited by in the 2026 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, presented La Trobe Financial,” said Anthea Loucas Bosha, CEO of Food + Drink Victoria, the not-for-profit parent company behind MFWF and a very keen promoter of the event's sponsor. 

“I’m thrilled that the 2026 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival program features an incredible special events program with 170 events across Melbourne, alongside our regional special events program, bringing 26 events to towns and regions across Victoria.

"Our final weekend has us back at Fed Square, where Melbourne’s best bakers and patissiers will be on show at our fourth and supersized Baker’s Dozen. 

"For 10 days in March there will be nowhere better to eat and drink in the world."

The party kicks off with the return of "World’s Longest Lunch" (above), celebrating Melbourne's Greek community. 

This sees 1,600 guests sitting down to a three-course meal, across more than 600 metres of table.

"The 2026 program includes guests making their way to Melbourne from Mexico City, Manila, Chiang Rai, Valetta, London, New York City, Singapore, Paris and beyond," says MFWF creative director Pat Nourse. 

“They’re cooking in fine-dining restaurants and in pubs, serving food on china plates on damask cloths, and straight out of restaurant windows, doing it savoury, sweet, spicy and everywhere in between." 

For details and ticket sales visit mfwf.com.au. 

Its OK to go NoLo: No one feels guilty any more

It is OK to go alcohol free.

No guilt.

The team at Heineken 0.0, which is the best-selling non-alcoholic beer, has revealed that almost three-quarters (72%) of people are confident enough to skip alcohol over the holidays without fear of being judged or excluded. 

A recent study, carried out in five countries in partnership with the author of Sober Curious, Ruby Warrington, shows attitudes are changing fast.

It revealed over two-thirds (67%) of people surveyed now say it's outdated and inappropriate to ask why someone isn't drinking alcohol in 2025.

Also, 81% agree it's acceptable to say "no" to alcohol at festive events - with no explanation required.

"The question 'why aren't you drinking?' belongs firmly in the past," Warrington says.

"People everywhere now feel free to choose if and when they drink alcohol without fearing social pressure or awkwardness. When I coined the term 'sober curious' nearly 10 years ago, the goal was to normalise the choice not to drink – and we're finally here."

It was the second survey in 12 months recording positive attitudes.

Heineken’s partner in its original January study, Charles Spence, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, said: "These two studies show how quickly attitudes shift. Alcohol has been central to social life for generations, but the data now proves moderation is for everyone."

How people plan to celebrate this season also tells a story. 

At least 37% will moderate their intake, 27% plan to abstain altogether, and 1 in 5 will raise a 0.0 beer instead. Gen Z are leading the charge for balance with 30% planning to 'zebra stripe' their drinks, alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic all night.

Fear of missing out has finally gone out of fashion with 86% saying they are comfortable drinking low or no-alcohol options at festive events, and 76% say they don't need alcohol to feel included.

In fact, 90% say they'd support a friend choosing to drink low or no-alcohol versions this festive season - showing social pressure has given way to social acceptance.

# The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 10,001 adults aged 18+ in the UK, US, Spain, Japan and Brazil.

Vancouver puts on the culinary glitz

Vancouver is one of the most spectacular cities in North America. It has a great food and drink culture and has the advantage of being in Canada, rather than its belligerent neighbour. 

If you are heading to British Columbia early in the new year be sure to check out Dine Out Vancouver, Canada’s largest food and drink celebration, which will return for its 24th year. 

Destination Vancouver has announced that foodies can enjoy 19 days of feasting fun from January 21 to February 8, 2026. 

The Dine Out Vancouver Festival (DOVF) is an opportunity for visitors and locals alike to celebrate the city's culinary scene. 

Diners can look forward to a line-up of special menus from local chefs, unique culinary experiences, and a schedule of tasty events. 

The 2026 DOVF will showcase more than 400 restaurants from the North Shore to downtown, through Richmond and beyond, dishing up menus in fixed price points ranging from $25 to $70 per person.

Guests can also enjoy exclusive menus from Michelin-starred restaurants Burdock & Co. and Published on Main for $110.

The Dine Out Vancouver Festival will feature more than 30 ticketed dining events, including a three-course dinner in one of Rocky Mountaineer’s luxury rail cars at the Rocky Mountaineer Station. 

There will also be the “Chowder Cup”- a competition where chefs can showcase their creativity by featuring a sustainable seafood ingredient to win over a panel of judges. 

Also think events like a Sea Foraging Adventure. a Chinatown Walk, Talk and Dim Sum and a Grand Mezcal Tasting Event. 

Participating downtown Vancouver hotels will be offering up to a $250 Prepaid Mastercard with a two-night hotel stay, or a $75 Prepaid Mastercard with a one-night hotel stay (terms and conditions apply).

As the official airline of Dine Out Vancouver Festival, Air Canada will be offering discounted fares. 

For more info see https://www.dineoutvancouver.com/attractions/.

Many different facets of the Barossa

From new experiences, new tastes and new places to stay, the Barossa is one of the liveliest wine regions to visit in Australia.

New at Jacob's Creek, as part of its membership with Ultimate Winery Experiences, is a suite of horse riding experiences from their Barossa cellar door, created in collaboration with Olympic medallist and eventer Megan Jones and her team at Hallmark Farm.

The partnership aims to blend the best of wine tourism and agritourism, offering guests the chance to explore the beautiful vineyards and surrounding landscapes on horseback before returning to enjoy a taste of the local product.

The experiences range from a horse ride and picnic, to a scenic trail ride and private curated tasting.

Meanwhile, Barossa Grand Retreats’ Benbullen Pavilions (above), set within 10 acres of peaceful countryside in the Barossa, are aimed at couples or groups seeking privacy and comfort.

Surrounded by rolling vineyards and native landscapes, each pavilion features three suites, each with its own en-suite bathroom and private deck.

Open-plan living areas include gourmet kitchens with premium European appliances and a spacious butler’s pantry.

Located just outside Angaston, Benbullen Pavilions offers high-speed wifi and sustainable design principles.



When you've had enough wine but still want a drink, The Distillery Door at the Barossa Valley Distillery (above) might fit the bill.

The Distillery Door Tasting Room & Cocktail Bar is housed in the Old Penfolds Distillery in Nuriootpa.

It is home to some of the oldest commercial stills in Australia, including a Coffey Still of which there are only three in the world.

The Distillery is a celebration of all things spirits, offering tasting paddles of gins and cocktails, alongside local Barossa wines and beers from smaller producers. 

imbibe in the historic bar or in the botanical garden seating area outside. There are pizzas from Friday-Sunday.

See https://www.barossa.com/

easyJet unveils new cheap flight options from the UK to Europe

One of the thrilling surprises for Australians visiting the UK is the ready availability of flights to exotic destinations for the cost a rail trip back home. 

There may be all sorts of restrictions; the extras can pile up and some of the flights leave from secondary airports. But there are some real bargains to be had if you have a sense of adventure. 

EasyJet - one of the leading budget airlines - has just unveiled two new routes for summer 2026 from the UK to Germany and Italy. 

Seats now on sale to Naples from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and to Munich from London Southend. 

The Naples flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays from August 3, while easyJet’s new flight to Munich will start on September 17, operating twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays and starting ahead of Oktoberfest. 

EasyJet holidays has also launched packages to both cities with flights and accommodation included. 

“We are really pleased to be launching even more new routes and package holidays," said  Kevin Doyle, easyJet UK country manager. 

"By continuing to grow our network, we are providing even greater choice and connectivity from across the UK.” 

As of today, easyJet serves 22 UK airports, offering more than 640 routes to 140 destinations from the UK to Europe and beyond. 

The airline also recently announced new routes from across eight UK airports including new connections to Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, the Canary Islands, Egypt and Malta. 

Worth checking out. Just don't expect any frills. 

Michelin turns its beady eyes to wine

First it was restaurants. Then hotels. Now Michelin is turning its hand to rating wines. 

The Michelin Guide this week announced plans to introduce a three-tier ‘Grapes’ system to rate wine producers. 

Burgundy and Bordeaux (how very predictable) will be the first regions to be assessed in 2026. 

Michelin has unveiled a new global distinction for wine, expanding the Guide’s long-established expertise in gastronomy into vineyard assessments for the first time. 

The new system, called the Michelin Grapes, will award one, two or three Grapes to wine estates, alongside a “Selected” category for producers chosen for regular review. 

Described as "a new benchmark for wine lovers", Michelin says the move offers wine enthusiasts a trusted reference point for discovering producers worldwide. 

The Grapes will evaluate estates using five criteria: agronomy, technical mastery, identity, balance and consistency across vintages. All assessments will be carried out by a team of professional wine inspectors employed by the Michelin Group. 

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director for the Michelin Guide, told reporters: “After having oriented wine-lovers towards the finest tables in more than 70 destinations and to the world’s most elegant hotels, the Michelin Guide is delighted to open a new chapter with the world of wine. 

"This new reference is designed for both the curious amateur and the most ardent expert.” 

He added that the distinction rewards “the people who are building the most demanding vineyards around the world.” 

Three Grapes will recognise “exceptional producers” whose wines can be relied upon “whatever the vintage”. Two Grapes will go to “excellent producers” that stand out within their peer group and region, while one Grape highlights “very good producers” crafting wines of character, particularly in strong vintages. 

The “Selected” category identifies dependable producers chosen for continued review. 

The inspectors are described as "seasoned professionals", including former sommeliers, specialised critics and production experts, selected for their ability to apply the methodology “with rigour and integrity”. 

To be honest I couldn't give a damn what these instant experts say. They will need to earn respect over the several years.   

Image: Ben Donath, Scop.io