Yarra Valley Opens Spring Season of ART | WINE | FOOD with a soiree including Vincent Fantauzzo, Gertrude Opera and the Archibald Prize

Are the regions where the real culture is happening? Spring in the Yarra Valley would lead you to think so. Home of the Archibald Prize, Vincent Fantauzzo exhibition, Gertrude Opera - Yarra Valley Opera Festival, Cherry Hill Blossom Festival and Yarra Valley Open Studios. With this much going on we felt we required a celabratory opening dinner. Why don't you join us?

An artful dinner featuring 2019 Archibald Prize Winner Tony Costa and four time winner of the People's Choice award, Vincent Fantauzzo in conversation over Oakridge Wine acclaimed food and award winning wines - the perfect arrangement for an inspired evening.

The evening will be interwoven with performance, music, extraordinary food, award winning wine and an unforgettable finale by Gertrude Opera. Hosted by comedian, author and ABC radio personality Michael Veitch join Tony Costa, in his only Victorian appearance, and Vincent Fantauzzo as they discuss their creative process and the impetus behind their work.

Oakridge's hyper-local focus on Yarra Valley flavours provides the ideal gastronomic backdrop to this celebration of springtime in the Yarra Valley. The joy of the season will be reflected in Matt Stone and Jo Barrett's dishes, with canapés and four courses showing off the season's bounty from their kitchen garden and surrounding producers. As expected, each course will be perfectly matched to Oakridge's spring release wines.

In addition to the dinner event, tickets will also include access to an exclusive preview of the renowned Archibald Prize exhibition at TarraWarra Museum of Art the following afternoon. Be among the first to see the exhibition before it opens to the public on Saturday 14th September.

Australia's oldest and most prestigious art award, the Archibald Prize is an Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition with Presenting Partner ANZ.

• Tony Costa's Archibald Prize-winning work will be on display alongside 50 other shortlisted works at TarraWarra Museum of Art from 14 September to 5 November 2019.
• Vincent Fantauzzo's 30:30 portrait collection will be exhibited by YAVA gallery in Healesville from 5 September.
• The Yarra Valley Opera Festival, presented by Gertrude Opera, will run from 18 - 27 October.
• Yarra Valley Blossom Festival will run 26th September - 6th October
• Yarra Valley Open Studios will run; 21 & 22 September - Maroondah Highway Area, 12 & 13 October - Melba Highway Area, 9 & 10 November - Warburton Highway Area

When: Thursday 12 September, 7.00pm welcome with canapés, 7:30pm seated dinner
Where: Oakridge Restaurant and Winery, 864 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream
Cost: $180pp - includes 4 courses matched Oakridge wines, performances and a ticket to attend a preview of the Archibald Prize exhibition at TarraWarra Museum of Art (exhibition opens to the public Sat 14)
Book: 03 9738 9900 / www.oakridgewines.com.au

• 2019 Archibald Prize at TarraWarra Museum of Art: https://www.twma.com.au/exhibition/archibald-prize-2019/
• YAVA Exhibition of Vincent Fantauzzo's 30:30 portrait collection: https://www.yava.org.au/face-to-face
• Gertrude Opera - Yarra Valley Opera Festival: https://www.yarravalleyoperafestival.com.au
• Michael Veitch: www.michaelveitch.com.au
• Yarra Valley Open Studios: https://www.yarravalleyarts.org.au/openstudios2019