Wet weather fails to dampen toast celebrations

COLD and wet weather failed to deter the thousands of wine lovers who toasted the coast at the weekend.
Held over the Melbourne Cup long weekend, the two-day Toast to the Coast festival was one of the most anticipated events on the local calendar, showcasing the very best cool-climate wines and gourmet food from around the Bellarine Peninsula, Moorabool Valley and Surf Coast.
The new format this year has proved popular among event-goers.
While day one was similar to previous years, with ticketholders able to take their pick of 17 participating wineries across 12 locations on the Bellarine and Moorabool Valley, Day two was held at one location – The Pier in Geelong.
Lucky ticketholders enjoyed tastings from 17 local wine producers (including those from the Surf Coast), with plenty of delicious food on offer and complemented by the smooth tones of live jazz bands at The Pier, during either a morning or afternoon session.