Visit the Bendigo Wine region on 10 and 11 October.

In the vineyards in this region, plantings of red grape varieties predominate over white, with the dominant red variety being shiraz, and the dominant whites chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. Other red grape varieties include cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec, mataro, sangiovese and touriga. Other white grape varieties include riesling, semillon, and traminer.

The towns and lands in the Bendigo region share a common historical legacy in their gold-mining roots. The gold-bearing soils of the area have proved to be ideally suited to viticulture. The grapes of the Bendigo area have from the earliest days been wine, not table, grapes, and to this day they are only minimally irrigated and ultimately handcrafted into premium wines. The wines of intense flavour, produced here by the confluence of superb climatic and geographic conditions, have made Bendigo's reputation abroad as much as its gold has.

Over this weekend you will find Cellar Doors open from 12 to 4pm in the Bendigo region where you will meet and learn from the makers, taste the beautiful wine produced from this region and explore the vineyard. You will also be able to purchase the wine straight from the winery and put Bendigo wine on your table.

Visit www.bendigowine.org.au to plan your visit as some Cellar Doors will stay open outside of these hours.

Click here to download the Bendigo Wine Map to help you navigate and plan your trip.

On Saturday 10 October, the Bendigo Community Farmers's Market will be on from 8am to 11pm and the Meet the Maker will be on from 9am - 12pm at the Bendigo Visitor Centre, there will also be wine tasting at the Visitor Centre during that time. Make sure you pop in and say hi.