The Springtime sun is shining, which means it’s time for the annual Shedfest Wine Festival!
Shedfest Wine Festival is a two-day festival that showcases smaller, family-owned wineries and vineyards in the Yarra Valley. In 2019 it’s the festival’s 18th birthday!
The festival program details what’s happening at each winery, from cellar door tastings, food pairings to kids entertainment. Some of the participating wineries aren’t normally open to the public except by appointment.
We are invited to visit Shedfest and after researching the best family-friendly wineries we decide on an itinerary based around Seville and Wandin – specifically Paynes Rise, Seville Hill and Whispering Hills. They are each quite different, each with their own flair and downfalls.
Make sure you tote your souvenir wine glass around, as it acts as your entry to taste the wines at each of the venues.
Paynes Rise
Our first stop is Paynes Rise and as we get there early we have the chance to talk to some of the winemakers and get a real feel for the venue. We enjoy a more in-depth tasting and learn more about the type of grapes that are grown in the region, and what creates a good drop. Try the: 2017 ‘Mr Jed’ Pinot Noir!
Paynes Rise is on a historic site so there are lots of artefacts, old homesteads and nooks and crannies to explore. There is lots of space to run around and rolling hills for picnics. There’s a real family atmosphere and feels a bit more slow-paced than the other locations we visit. During Shedfest there is acoustic music from midday and lawn games for the kids.
We choose to eat there and have the pork belly baguette, mushroom ragu gnocchi and kids burgers. The adult’s meals are excellent but the children’s ones leave much to be desired – they are overcooked and small. No outside food is allowed to be brought on to the property (though I notice that people do anyway).
Note that there is a BIG walk from the lower carpark to the winery. Also, you can’t go into the vines; everything is fenced off.
Seville Hill
Seville Hill is just a short stroll up the hill from Paynes Rise. We find it to be super busy, with a bit of a younger adult crowd and lots of particularly well-dressed people buying up big! The tasting is packed by 12pm and we find it very hard to learn anything much about what is on offer, though we do try the 2017 Rose.
For Shedfest there is live jazz from 11am, and the outdoor space is big and well planned with a variety of dining tables, lounge chairs and picnic space.
They have the best variety of lawn games to choose from – but the games are located in the full sun and the shaded areas were very limited. A basic menu will fill your belly up with classic pub meals.
Seville Hill benefits from AMAZING views and is the best place to take landscape shots if you’re a keen photographer.
Whispering Hills
A short drive or stroll down the dirt road will have you ending up at Whispering Hills winery, the smallest of the three wineries we visit.
This place has a really easy-going attitude, with friendly knowledgeable servers and great acoustic music. However, the site is really small and they have limited grounds beyond the few large table settings in and around the vines and sheds.
We really like the vibe of Whispering Hills but can’t get a seat to sit down after our brief tasting of the Premium Cuvee, so the girls and I explore the vines that we can access and have a closer look at how they are strung and grown.
Other notable wineries participating in Shedfest this year include Badger’s Brook Winery, Billanook Estate, Kellybrook Winery and Yering Farm Wines, though not all of them cater particularly for kids.
Shedfest Wine Festival is a great family-friendly event, though it pays to do your research beforehand to know what’s on offer at each location. The $15 entry per adult for the whole weekend is very affordable and there are more than 80 wines to taste, while some of the proceeds go towards local community groups like Country Fire Authority or State Emergency Service too.
Click here for more things to do in the Yarra Valley with kids
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”]HOT Tips:
- Go as early as possible to get the best picnic spot;
- try to chat to the people in the know about the wine produced at the winery;
- Bring hats and sunscreen as there is very little shade;
- Baby change stations are few and far between;
- There can be lots of hills, prams can go off-road but it’s a rough drive;
- >Wear sensible shoes; and
- Bring extra drink bottle for the kids and some sneaky snacks; there are not a lot of non-alcoholic beverages on offer.
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