A GRANT from the state government’s regional tourism investment fund received by Indigo Vineyard is set to help boost the local economy with increased visitation to the area.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos announced successful recipients of the Regional Tourism Investment Fund 2024 in mid-April.

Indigo Vineyard is one of 15 tourism businesses with small scale projects across the state to receive the funding.

The vineyard, with its award-winning wines located in Everton Upper foothills, will this year start to build a new 20 by 12 metre cellar door wrapped around accessibility.

Indigo Vineyard founder Rob Hawkings said planning had been in the making for the last four years.

Besides a larger area, Mr Hawkings said the new amenity will include a kitchen, and accessible toilets for people needing more user-friendly facilities.

He also said the existing 24 square cellar door space only seats around 10 people with the garden area and other external seating relied upon with comfort experience difficulties faced in wet, cold or hot weather.

“It’s going to make a real difference in having space for people to be able to wine taste, dine, and have undercover space all through the year with heating and cooling giving them a better experience,” he said.

“It will be helping to increase the frequency of overnight stays and money spent in the Beechworth wine region and provide the opportunity for more people to visit.”

The grants to support new and innovative tourism infrastructure projects have been designed to attract more visitors to Victoria’s regions.

The Regional Tourism Investment Fund 2024 is part of the $170 million Regional Tourism and Events Fund to create more jobs, support our important tourism businesses and attract more visitors to experience all that is on offer across regional Victoria.

Indigo Vineyard on Saturday celebrated its 25th vintage with guests coming from as far as Darwin.