The annual Great Eastern Wine Weekend returns for its fourth year from 8-9 September 2018, showcasing the best food and wines of Tasmania's east coast.

The event offers an opportunity to explore Tasmania's east coast wine region through a variety of special events, with vineyards, cellar doors and tourism operators opening their doors across the weekend.

This year's calendar has almost tripled in size, with new events including a game meat feast, wine and seafood indulgence on the beach, a long brunch showcasing the east coast wine region, a vertical tasting of pinot, an artisan market and yoga in the vines.

Esteemed winemaker Claudio Radenti will take guests on a tour of Freycinet Vineyard, where every drop is grown, produced and bottled on-site.

Radenti will then be joined by local wine guru Tim Goddard as hosts of the five-course sunset feast The Great Eastern Wine and Dine Dinner at Freycinet Lodge.

Meet the Maker | Freycinet Lodge | Fri 7 Sep 5-7pm | Free

Start the weekend right with tastings from the hand of our local makers. From 5pm, winemakers from across the east coast region will gather at the Lodge for complimentary tastings, wine sales and good conversation at the Freycinet Lodge Hazards Bar and Lounge. This is your chance to tuck a bottle of Pinot under your wing for later. Enjoy Melshell Oysters freshly shucked from their farm at Dolphin Sands, or share a platter of locally made cheeses from Hazards Bar and Lounge, to the tunes of much loved local, Pete Cornelius. This event is open to the public with no booking required. Tastings are free – just pay as you go for glasses or bottles along your east coast wine sipping journey. 

Freycinet Marine Farm Oyster Tasting | Freycinet Marine Farm | Sat 8 Sep 10-11:30am | $100pp

A farm visit normally conjures thoughts of cows and muddy shoes. Not at Freycinet Marine Farm. Head on down to their farm and they'll serve you up freshly shucked oysters standing in the very waters from which they're grown. What's more, they'll insist on pairing said oysters with a cool climate sparkling. Learn about how they harvest oysters and mussels and what's involved in the growing, grading and delivery process. The experience includes a live oyster display from juvenile to fully grown oysters along with half a dozen freshly shucked oysters and steamed mussels fresh from the farm. Naturally, these are served with sparkling from up the road.

Cellar Door Stops | Various Locations| All weekend

Here on the east coast we encourage you to 'just stop.' There's no better time to stop in at vineyards along the Great Eastern Drive than this weekend. Cellar doors welcome with special offers exclusive to the Great Eastern Wine Weekend. Make the most of this across vineyards as varied as their flavour profiles. From petite family-owned estates to alfresco dining with sweeping peninsula views, you're only problem will be moving on to the next stop. It won't just be the promise of your next wine tasting that prompts a pause – the beaches and azure coastline are something else.

Wild Abundance & Fire | Twamley Farm | Sat 8 Sep 10am-3pm | $150pp

It's time to turn up the heat. Wild Abundance & Fire is a cooking class and three-course feast designed to teach how to cook local game over fire and coals. In the surrounds of gorgeous Twamley Farm there will be much merriment and wine as part of this slow cooking experience with Gert from Gert & Ted Gourmet Catering. Prepare to celebrate the abundance of Tassie's bounty, cooking outdoors in the tradition of pagan festival Ostara which honours spring's arrival. Darlington and Boomer Creek Vineyards will be there to share stories and ensure wines are matched to perfection with local venison, rainbow trout, rabbit and pheasant in Twamley's Stone Room.

The Long Brunch | The Long Lunch Tour Co. | Sat 8 Sep 11am-3pm | $145pp

From Freycinet Lodge's doorstep, The Long Lunch Tour Company whisks you away to explore the local wine region on a roving long brunch between three cellar doors, indulging on local produce matched with coastal wines. First stop is bubbles and brunch at Devil's Corner featuring local seafood and delights, followed with a tasting at historic Gala Estate then a wine and cheese stop at Springvale Wines. Along the way, learn about the process from vine to wineglass in vineyards still largely owned by Tasmania's original settlers. Meet the makers, enjoy the view between vineyards and be dropped back to Freycinet Lodge four hours later. That's how to do brunch.

Lunch in the Vineyard | Craigie Knowe | Sat 8 Sep 12.30-3pm | $120pp

Pull up a pew for a rustic farm lunch at Craigie Knowe Vineyard. It's the oldest vineyard on the east coast and this is your chance to enjoy the latest wines in the Craigie family, 2018 Rose and 2018 Pinot Gris. The three course lunch, matched with these fine drops is the perfect chance to gather some good friends for a relaxed day out. Surrounded by vines planted in 1979 by a Hobart dentist, many nearby farmers thought he was nutty. It wasn't long before they were planting their own. Hear these stories and plenty more history over a long, lazy vineyard lunch.

Discover Freycinet Vineyard - with Claudio Radenti | Freycinet Vineyard | Sat 8 Sep 2-4pm | $50pp

It's not often one can spend time with a renowned winemaker and vineyard owner on an estate where every drop is grown, produced and bottled on site. Join Claudio Radenti on the gentle slopes of Freycinet Vineyard, overlooking the peninsula. This sheltered valley offers the ideal climate for elegant yet powerful wines. Let Claudio guide you across the estate as he points out near 40-year-old vines that have gone on to win national awards and redefine Tasmania's position as a premier producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling & Sparkling wines. The afternoon includes an education session tasting back vintages on his 15 hectare family-owned property.

The Great Eastern Wine and Dine Dinner | Freycinet Lodge | Sat 8 Sep 5-11pm | $145pp

Raise your glass and toast to the coast! As the signature event of the weekend, this five course sunset feast overlooking Great Oyster Bay is not to be missed. Hosted by wine guru Tim Goddard and acclaimed Freycinet Vineyard winemaker Claudio Radenti, the evening begins with freshly shucked oysters and east coast bubbles on the deck. Generous canapes will flow throughout the deck and lounge area before guests are seated for the remaining courses, with two matched wines per course. Roasting BBQ suckling pig, marinated BBQ Cape Grim steak and free-range chicken will await in a glowing fire pit on the deck. Share your table with local wine makers who will offer stories about winemaking on the east coast. Expect your glass to be full, platters piled high with regional fare, a delicately plated dessert, and shared cheese platters. The evening will be topped off with a game of 'who's wine is it?' and live entertainment. 

Pinot Noir Vertical Tasting at Milton Vineyard | Milton Vineyard | Sun 9 Sep 1-2.30pm | $65pp

Do you love Pinot Noir? Would you like to get more familiar with this varietal? Pinot Noir is the star of this show. A very rare opportunity has arisen to join Michael Dunbabin, owner and viticulturist at Milton Vineyard, as he takes your tastebuds on a journey through five vintages, exploring the ageing and maturing of the treasured Pinot Noir at Milton.  It's an occasion to explore this exquisite varietal, starting with a young vintage and tasting your way through older vintages, observing variances of each growing season. What factors were at play over the years? How does aging affect taste? These questions and more will be answered as you sip your way through 12 years of east coast vintage history. To complement the flavours and textures of the wine, small bites will be prepared by Chef Sophie who trained in Bordeaux and has since established herself at Milton Vineyard Cellar Door.                                                                                          

Yoga in the Vines | Devil's Corner Cellar Door| Sun 9 Sep 11-12pm| Free

A spring Sunday morning doesn't get much better than this! Treat yourself to a free one hour gentle yoga practice held in the vineyard. The calming and awe-inspiring view from Devil's Corner will be your muse. The morning sun will help to heat the body as it flows through breath and movement. A free wine tasting from the cellar door afterwards will offer mindfulness, as your focus moves to the flavour of the wine and finding the perfect words to describe it – a great way to complete a morning of relaxation.

Wine and Seafood Indulgence at Hazards Beach | Available all weekend | $349.00 for 2 adults

We've got your picnic blanket packed and the Freycinet Aqua Taxi chariot waiting at our Lodge jetty. Add a little romance and adventure to your weekend by cruising out to a secluded patch of sand at Hazards Beach. We'll prepare the mouth-watering seafood picnic for two, including a bottle of east coast sparkling. All you need to do is decide on red or white to fill those glasses on a blanket overlooking Great Oyster Bay with your special someone. The indulgent offering includes delivery back to our jetty doorstep to continue your wine weekend.

Accommodation packages at Freycinet Lodge are available, with discounts for auto club members.

For more information, visit www.freycinetlodge.com.au/WineWeekend