Heston Blumenthal, Rick Stein and Australian chefs Peter Gilmore and Frank Camorra, are donning their whites to head up this year's Margaret River Gourmet Escape (21 – 23 November 2014) – a three day food and wine festival held amongst the rolling vineyards and white sand beaches of Western Australia's Margaret River Wine Region.  More than 30 of the world's best chefs, wine critics and celebrities will come together to celebrate the region's renowned restaurants, cellar doors, 150 artisanal producers and spectacular natural scenery. Heston Blumenthal, who is returning for a second year, commented “I don't think that there is any other food event on this planet like this!”

Tailor-made travel company, WEXAS Travel is now offering exclusive itineraries for the festival, which include international flights, accommodation and tickets to all key events, ensuring a seamless experience and allowing even more time to enjoy the cornucopia that awaits. Guests that book with WEXAS Travel will also have access to The Gourmet Village – the heart of the festival at Leeuwin Estate Winery - as well as to the Gourmet Beach BBQ, one of the festival's most sought after events.

Only in Margaret River can visitors move between a beach BBQ with Rick Stein, a collaboration dinner from Michelin starred greats like Heston Blumenthal, Sat Bains and Clare Smyth and a wine tasting with Australian wine critic James Halliday before hitting the beach, discovering a world-class surf break or exploring ancient caves. With a similar terroir to Bordeaux, the region is home to over 200 vineyards producing award-winning chardonnays, cabernet sauvignons and semillon sauvignon blancs. Artisanal cheese and chocolate producers, microbreweries, and distilleries are also now abundant, as is nature's larder of fresh seafood and truffles – Western Australia is now the largest producer of truffles outside Europe.

In what is proving to be the most exciting and high-profile line-up to date, the festival has become a must-visit event on every foodie's calendar. Other chefs taking part in this year's festival are Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana, Modena Italy) Guillaume Brahimi (Guillaume Sydney and Bistro Guillaume Melbourne & Perth), George Calombaris (The Press Club Melbourne), Hadleigh Troy (Restaurant Amusé, Perth) and Margaret River's Matt Stone (Silo, Melbourne) – to name just a few. Book now with WEXAS Travel ( www.wexas.com / 0207 838 5874)

WEXAS Travel ( www.wexas.com / 0207 838 5874) offers a six-night itinerary for the Margaret River Gourmet Escape from £1,995 per person based on two sharing a one bedroom apartment, including international flights from the UK to Perth, seven days car hire and six night's luxury accommodation. This price also includes Premium Gourmet Village tickets and Gourmet Beach BBQ tickets.

For more information about gourmet itineraries to Western Australia visit www.wexas.com/westernaustralia 

For more information on Margaret River Gourmet Escape visit www.gourmetescape.com.au and for wider Western Australia www.westernaustralia.com 

Notes to Editors: WEXAS Travel

WEXAS was set up in 1970 by Dr Ian Wilson, the present chairman, and is endorsed by Honorary Presidents such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes, John Simpson and Michael Palin. The company offers tailor-made travel to the UK's discerning and adventurous travellers. With  forty four years' experience, the team of travel specialists has first-hand, in-depth knowledge of their destination and offer outstanding personal service. WEXAS Travel is ABTA, ATOL and IATA bonded, and based in London.

Western Australia

Western Australia, famous for its stunning beaches and year round sunshine, has long been a nirvana for wine lovers. With a similar terroir to Bordeaux, Margaret River produces approx. 5% of Australia's grapes, but 25% of its premium export wine. It is also the second largest producer of black truffles in the world, thanks to the fertile soils of Manjimup. Also with 12,000km of coastline there is an incredible array of seafood from juicy rock oysters in Albany and the endemic marron (freshwater crayfish) to Exmouth's prawns and the monster barramundi found in the Kimberley. What's more, this delicious slice of Australia is closer than you think. You can fly from the UK to Perth in around 18 hours – four hours less than the quickest flight to Sydney. Together with the iconic wildlife experiences and an extraordinary range of natural wonders, including three World Heritage sites, it offers an accessible taste of Australia.