La Dolce Vita 2026: How to Do the King Valley's Biggest Weekend (and Where to Sleep)
Once a year, the King Valley's winemaking families throw open their gates for a weekend of food, wine, music and very long lunches. La Dolce Vita Festival returns Friday 20 to Sunday 22
November 2026, and with Bluestone Ridge just down the road in Whitfield, it's one of the best excuses to book a stay.
Here's what's on, and how we'd plan it.
Friday Night: Prosecco Nights at Dal Zotto
The weekend kicks off at Dal Zotto, the home of Australia's first Prosecco. Doors open at 4 pm for Prosecco Nights, with local eight-piece Sweet Buzz playing from 5 to 9 pm, a Prosecco bar pouring the full range (including the Pucino Prosecco Spritz), and wood-fired pizza, porchetta rolls and arancini from the kitchen.
One thing to know: there are no festival tastings on Friday night. Choose your wine, grab your weekend glass and settle in.
Saturday & Sunday: Pick Your Cellar Doors
Saturday is the full program, with most venues open 10 am to 5 pm and a tasting included with your festival entry. A few highlights from this year's line-up:
Pizzini hosts its Spritzzini Pizza Party, with gnocchi, pizza, antipasti, gelato and live gypsy jazz. La Cantina serves Nonna's lasagna and arancini, runs a produce market, and offers free guided winery tours twice daily (donations go to a local community program).
King River Estate brings in a Greek feast from Pavlos Catering, with live music from midday.
Darling Estate pairs new releases with house-made sausages, baked camembert and live acoustic soul from Erik Parker.
Brown Brothers celebrates 40 years of its Spring Wine & Food Festival with three festival kitchens (French, Italian and Spanish) and a spritz bar.
John Gehrig Wines pours from a riverside deck, with lawn games and a kids' corner.
You won't fit everything in, and you're not meant to. Pick two or three, stay a while, and let the afternoon unfold.
Tips for Getting Around
The wineries are spread out, so plan your route ahead and don't drive after tasting. Most venues take private bus bookings only (groups of 12+ at some, and by appointment at most), and local operators including North East Coachlines and King Valley Winery Tours offer shuttles and tours. Also worth knowing: no BYO food or alcohol at any venue, most venues welcome dogs on a lead, and Brown Brothers does not allow pets this weekend. Make Bluestone Ridge Your Base
Festival weekends book out, and there's something special about finishing a big day of tasting with a soak in your private outdoor bath, a fire pit under the stars, and a cabin ten minutes from the action. Wake up to fresh house-baked bread, watch the sunrise over the Black Ranges, then do it all again on Sunday.
Planning La Dolce Vita? Book your stay at Bluestone Ridge before the weekend fills up.
Festival tickets and the full program are at winesofthekingvalley.com.au.