What's happening in Canberra Wine Week 2021

There'll be a variety of events, from premium wine dinners, to cellar door tours, and you'll be able to join in the fun with grape stompings, art exhibitions and too many tastings to mention.

Hosted from Sunday, March 21, until Monday, March 29, head to canberrawines.com.au for a full, and ever-changing, list of events.

Here are a few highlights worth booking early.

Tim Kirk, of Clonakilla, will be the guest speaker at this special dinner, featuring four courses especially curated by The Boat House head chef John Leverink to showcase four special Clonakilla releases. And a Gallagher Blanc de Blanc on arrival with canapes. Tickets are limited, $180pp. This event sells out every year so get in quick. March 24, The Boat House, Barton.

More than 60 wines will be on offer at the tasting event, showcasing the diversity of our cool climate wine district. About 12 local wineries will be pouring their wines at the Kambri Cultural Precinct in Acton, from 3pm to 6pm, on March 20. Collect your 50 Year Commemorative Plumm stemless tasting glass and embark on a taste of our Liquid Geography. Pre-order a grazing box and spend the afternoon. Tickets $40 online presale, $45 at the door. March 20.

High Jinks is hosting a Canberra district wine tasting with Mount Majura's Fergus McGhie as your personal guide through the plains, tablelands and hilltops of the local wine district. Over the course of 90 minutes, he will take you through a special selection of the region's wines, including a special limited bottle and some of Australia's highest-rated wines. $40pp gets you a glass of Mount Majura sparkling on arrival, meat and cheese plate for each table booking, tastings of five local and four Mount Majura wines. March 20, High Jinks, Edinburgh Ave, City.

Join an intimate small group of no more than three couples with one of the Contentious Characters, for an Indulgence Wine Tasting followed by a two-course lunch or dinner. You'll also get a glass of wine of your choice with your lunch or dinner. Wines will be curated for the group and drawn from the Founders Museum Collection, our unique collection of old world style aged vintages as well as from the Contentious Character range of new world styles. March 20-21, 27-28. Bookings essential. $210 per couple.

Join Shaw Wines owner and winemaker, Graeme Shaw, for a walk through the estate's vineyard. With the nets on and fruit on the vines, it really is the best time of the year to be in the vineyard. This informative opportunity is a chance to learn about how a vineyard works and how what happens in the vineyard affects the final wines. After the tour, head across to the cellar door for a guided tour through the range of estate wines. Finish the tasting with a vineyard platter on the terrace. March 27 to 28. Shaw Wines, Murrumbateman.

Celebrate harvest at Tallagandra Hill, with wine (and music) lovers David and Mary Faulks. There'll be tastings and live music over the weekend of March 27 to 28, featuring Kim Yang, Lucy Sugerman, MissM and Lisa Richards. There'll be pizzas from Jacko's and time to chat to the winemakers. From noon until 4pm, March 27 to 28. Bookings essential so give Mary a call on 0434 041 915 or email wine@tallagandrahill.com.au to secure a table in the courtyard. $35pp, kids $20, includes large pizza of your choice, one glass of wine of your choice (kids includes a soft drink) plus live music.

Bobbie Makin from Murrumbateman Winery will lead small group tastings of their wines from different vintages. Two sessions on March 21, sauvignon blanc at 11am and cabernet sauvignon at 2.30pm. Served with a morsel snacks designed to pair with the wine you are tasting and there'll be live music as well. Check the website for more details about a behind the scenes winery tour as well. $50pp for the tasting.

Head out for a relaxing dinner at Norton Road Wines overlooking the vineyard for a tasting of six local and cool climate pinot noir and merlot. Starting at 5.30pm there'll be a pairing of three pinot noir and three merlot to five delicious small courses, finishing off with a cheese plate and port. And to entertain you, there'll be a screening the classic movie Sideways throughout the evening interspersed with a discussion about the wines. $79pp. Booking essential. March 27.

Enotria Wines and Lucas Studios would like to invite you to Pilates in the Vineyard. Enjoy a pilates class followed by a wine tasting of Enotria Wines. With three classes available there's no better way to get fit, enjoy the view and quaff fine wine. March 27. Enotria Wines, Bungendore.