This year's "A Taste of Falls Creek" on January 21, will showcase boutique wineries from Glenrowan, Bendigo, King Valley, Rutherglen and the largest Alpine Valley cool-climate wine-maker Gapsted Wines.

There'll also be some big 'guns' from Rutherglen such as Morris Wines, All Saints Estate, and St Leonard's. Another regular just confirmed is San Miranda, and several new, smaller wine-makers, include the winner of best boutique fortified (a Liqueur Muscat from Auldstone Cellars) in Australia, and the preservative-free wine-maker Kancoona Valley Wines, will also be represented at the alpine resort's annual food and wine event.

Connor Park Winery, located near Bendigo, compliments an array of wines not found in the bottle stores frequented by discerning wine drinkers in the larger, populated capital cities, such as Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide

Alex Reid, one of the family owners of Auldstone Cellars, said:"It was a big gong for us being recognised for our fortifieds. The award, for producers who crush under 400 tonne, was presented by the organisers of the Sydney Boutique Wine Show.

"We are also well-known for our three reds, a shiraz, merlot and cabernet, as well as our buttery-style Chardonnay, which has received four stars in the current, well-respected Wine State Magazine."

Another boutique winery located at Oxley in the Milawa Gourmet Region, Ciavarella Oxley Estate, is bringing its Dolcino (an unusual sweet red wine blended with merlot) to a taste of Falls Creek.

Jan Ciavarella said:"We operate a small family winery at Oxley and my husband Cyril and our son Tony produce a range of wine including the signature Dolcino, a Chardonnay, verdhello and a cab sav. "For people who appreciate a very good red we'll bring the first release of our 2001 cab sav (awarded four and a half stars in the current Wine State Magazine) as our 1999 cab sav has just about sold out.

"We like to keep our wines back and we are quite confident the just-released 2001 cab sav (which sells for $18 a bottle) will be well received."

For more information www.fallscreek.com.au  Tel 1800 232 557