Movies in the vineyards for a Christmas treat

A pre-Christmas trip to the Yarra Valley vineyards?

How about a glass or two of wine, a hearty meal and a classic movie under the stars?

Cinema in the Vines returns to Tokar Estate the weekend before Christmas (December 21-22).

The family-owned Yarra Valley winery will be screening two sessions of festive family films: Home Alone and The Polar Express.

Guests are invited to start their evening with a treat from Frosty’s Kitchen, the Yarra Valley’s popular food truck, paired with a sampling of Tokar Estate’s premium cool-climate wines, local craft beers, or cocktails.

Adults can relax with their drinks on a picnic rug while the kids enjoy lawn games in the picturesque vineyard setting.

Kids of all ages can also visit the Tokar Estate’s candy bar, featuring Choc Tops, crisps, and hot-buttered popcorn.  BYO picnic rug, bean bag or camping chair.

Tickets are $22 for adults and $14 for children with a family ticket $65 for two adults and up to three young 'uns. Children under three are admitted free. Tokar Estate is a fully licenced venue, so there is trictly no BYO food or beverage.

Tickets for Home Alone can be purchased here.

Tickets for The Polar Express can be purchased here.

Catch a new-release movie in the vineyards

It sounds like a lovely summer treat: watching a new-release movie in a lovely vineyard setting.

Tokar Estate Winery in the Yarra Valley will host a movie program every Friday and Saturday night throughout December.

It is being billed as a fun, family-friendly event under the stars.

Think Frosty's Kitchen a gourmet food truck, drinks including estate-grown wines, watermelon Frosé, cocktails and local beers, and even a candy bar selling classic choc tops and other cinema snacks. There will be lawn games for the kids, and sunset vineyard views for the adults.

I had a glass or two (well, three or four really) of the excellent Tokar Estate 2023 Shiraz Rosé the other evening - and it would be a delightful sundowner.

The screenings are a joint venture between Tokar Estate and local business Offshore Cinema.

The program includes action films like The Flash, and Top Gun: Maverick, movies for a girls night out including Barbie and No Hard Feelings, and comedies including Home Alone 2, and Tropic Thunder.

Gates will open at 6:30pm with movies screening from 9pm. BYO picnic rug, bean bag or camping chair.

For more info or to book tickets visit https://www.tokarestate.com.au/pages/cinema-in-the-vines

New chef very much at home in the Yarra Valley

Yarra Valley winery Tokar Estate has signed up well-travelled chef Chris Toogood to boost its culinary offering.

Toogood has worked at Bistro Vue, Moon Under Water and Launceston Place and is the new head chef at Tokar Estate, a family-owned winery, cellar door and restaurant, known for its seasonal menus.

Toogood's love for food began on his family farm in the Mallee region of South Australia and has taken him to London and some of Melbourne's best culinary addresses.

“Living off the land and seeing where all our food came from a very young age and formed my strong paddock-to-plate mentality," says Toogood.

"We did everything from reaping the crops and tending to the livestock, to pickling, preserving and seeding using the fruit and vegetables grown by my grandparents.

"We were always surrounded by food and knew exactly how everything was made, and where it all came from. I found myself seeing cooking as a way of life, and once I finished high school, I found a culinary course in Ballarat, Victoria and moved from the farm to start an apprenticeship.”

At Launceston Place in London he worked under Tristan Welch, who trained with the likes of Gary Rhodes, Michel Roux Jr and Gordon Ramsay.

He has also worked at Seville Estate, so knows the Yarra and its artisan producers.

“I focus on getting the best out of the produce the local area has to offer," he says. 

"Food miles and the environmental impact it has is very important to me and the Tokar family. We are surrounded by an abundance of magnificent makers and growers, so it makes perfect sense to highlight the fruits of their labour."



There are several dishes on the menu that look worth trying. Among those tempting me are starters like Yarra Valley salmon caviar, chive crème fraiche and crostoli, and cured pork and roast apple croquettes.

Larger dishes include roasted Wandin heirloom tomato tart, olive caramel and goat curd, and pasture-fed roast beef rump cap with confit shallots, crispy potato and jus.

The midweek set menu offers two courses for $65pp or three courses for $80pp including a glass of Tokar Estate wine.

There are also weekend set menus and a group sharing menu on offer.

Meals are served from 11:45am until 5pm Thursday to Sunday.

For diners wishing to extend their stay beyond lunch, Tokar Estate also has an on-site Bed and Breakfast, The Residence.

See https://tokarestate.com.au/restaurant-bookings/.