The autumn months are a wonderful time to head to Victoria's verdant regions. Visitors can reap and graze the day away through the State's diverse produce offering with the help of some fantastic events which bring together the season's bounty.

Yarra Valley Grape Grazing Festival, 14 – 16 February ?Experience the best of the Yarra Valley with more than 50 events including balloon flights, master-classes, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, the Traditional  Grape Graze with live music and plus a special edition Grape Grazing A Day On The Green concert with Jimmy Barnes. All less than an hours' drive from Melbourne.

Apollo Bay Seafood Festival, 22 February ?The Apollo Bay Seafood Festival program includes cooking demonstrations, live music from artists featured at the Apollo Bay Music Festival, roving performers and a farmer's market serving local produce, wine, beer and seafood in abundance.The beachside township of Apollo Bay is located approximately two and a half hours drive from Melbourne. 

Tastes of Rutherglen, 8 – 9 March, 15 – 16 March ?Leading regional chefs and winemakers partner together to celebrate the Rutherglen regions bounty with a choice of entrée sized offerings matched perfectly to the best wines of the region. The festival also includes a great line up of memorable dinners, behind the scenes tours and other foodie activities.  For the first time in 2014, a Tastes of Rutherglen shuttle bus will provide a hop on and off service; each shuttle route is themed to the wine and food offerings of the wineries.

Corangamite Foodies Feast, 14 March ?Located in the village of Camperdown, a two hour drive mid-west from the heart of Melbourne, this event is a regional umbrella event of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. The Corangamite Foodies Feast celebrates the produce of the local region particularly the dairy and wine the region is known for. The event provides an opportunity to taste delicious food and wine sourced from the Corangamite Shire region prepared by passionate local chefs.

Daylesford Macedon Produce Harvest Week Festival, 25 April – 4 May ?Food lovers are invited to rub shoulders with chefs, restaurateurs and growers to celebrate the very best of the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region's produce. Activities include tasting plates, wine tasting and various farm gates and cellar doors joining in the festivities.

Grampians Grape Escape, 3 – 4 May ?Founded in 1991, the Grampians Grape Escape is regional Victoria's premier food and wine Festival, held during the first weekend of May every year at Halls Gap. Attended by around 8,000 people the Festival provides a relaxed atmosphere for foodies, families and international tourists to drink and graze their way through the offerings of more than 100 of Western Victoria's best artisans of wine, fine food and produce.

High Country Harvest, 16 – 25 May? This event is North East Victoria's regional celebration of food, wine and beer framed by the spectacular Alpine region and surrounding valleys, lakes and rivers. The 2014 program will be on-sale mid-March and features more than 40 events over the ten days of the Festival ranging from cycling and horse-riding trails and bee-keeping classes, to special bonfires and picnics and dinners featuring the region's top producers, chefs, winemakers and craft brewers.

Other upcoming regional events with a focus on food include:

Yarra Valley's Herb and Chilli Festival, 15- 16 March

Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat, Dalyesford VIP Degustation in Spa Country.  4-6 April

(Courtesy of www.visitvictoria.com)