From 2nd to 4th September the second Nagambie Lakes Opera Festival will be held in Victoria at various surprising performance locations within three host wineries: Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia members, Fowles Wine and Tahbilk as well as Mitchelton Wines located close by.  Last year's inaugral event celebrated opera’s 400-year history, delighting audiences with the magic of the art form in picturesque settings.

The festival is produced by Gertrude Opera.  In their words, 'Gertrude Opera is an Australian opera company with an international cohort, dedicated to presenting excellent opera-as-theatre. Gertrude Opera produces a range of performances, exciting repertoire, treatments and opportunities for a combination of established professional artists and exceptional young artists from Australia and overseas.'  

The full festival line up can be found here.  Tickets can be purchased for individual performances, days or the entire festival.

The Gala Dinner will be held on Saturday 3rd September and is a collaboration of the finest wine and food from the three host wineries.  Each course created by the chef’s will be paired with a wine from each winery, providing the unique opportunity to contrast the individual flavours and terroir of each winery, all to the accompaniment of an exceptional operatic backdrop. 

This exceptional event not only celebrates a beautiful and brilliant art form but also a remarkably beautiful part of Australia.  The Nagambie Lakes region itself, where you will find Tahbilk, is known for its picturesque habitats of tall, shady red river gums and tranquil views of the Goulburn River and surrounding wetlands.  Very close by the Strathbogie Ranges, home of Fowles Wine, is a highly diverse region incorporating farming land and forests, striking rocky outcrops, stunning vistas, glades and waterfalls.

So make a weekend of it why don't you? Between thrilling bursts of operatic entertainment you can take in the highlands and wetlands of one of Australia's most beautiful regions.