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[VIC] Dark Side of Wine Rutherglen
Friday, 8 August 2025 # 9:00 am - Sunday, 17 August 2025 # 5:00 pm AEST
After receiving “Best Wine Themed Event” at the Wine Communicators of Australia Awards, the
Winemakers of Rutherglen are thrilled to announce the return of their acclaimed winter festival –
Dark Side of Wine.
Now in its second year and with support from The Victorian Regional Events Fund, this
immersive 10-day event invites visitors to experience Rutherglen like never before – by firelight,
under stars, and through stories whispered from barrel to glass.
A Festival of Mystery, Mastery, and Muscat over ten unforgettable days and nights, Rutherglen’s vignerons and winemakers will open their cellars, stories, and secrets, revealing the rich heritage and bold future of a region known for over 160 years of fortified and full-bodied wine.
Guests can uncover hidden experiences like:
• Cracking clues in the Muscat Murder Mystery
• Following secret codes to reveal a mystery cinema location
• Roaming candlelit cask rooms and cellar tastings
• Dancing in historic wineries brought alive by performance
• Stargazing among the vines with stories from the stars
This year’s program expands on its theatrical roots with secret speakeasys, story circles by fire,
degustation dinners, trivia nights, blind tastings, and opportunities to blend, sip, and explore the
personal narratives behind every vintage.
Not Just Wine – A Story in Every Sip from the playful to the poetic, each event in the 2025 program is crafted to celebrate not only Rutherglen’s iconic Muscats, Durifs and Topaques, but the people and places that have shaped them, and the new generation reshaping what comes next. Whether you’re tasting house-style Muscats straight from the barrel, blending your own bold red, or capturing the night sky with a glass of Durif in hand, every moment of Dark Side of Wine invites discovery.
When: events are running from August 8th to 17th, 2025.
Where: Rutherglen, Victoria.
Plan Your Journey:
Tickets to individual events range from $15 to $220, with signature events and immersive
experiences spread across multiple venues and wineries.
For full program, ticket bookings and travel planning visit: http://www.explorerutherglen.com.au
