The two-day event will showcase food, wine, beer and cider from the Grampians region.

More than 125 exhibitors will showcase their produce for visitors to sample.

Food journalist and television personality Matt Preston will host cooking demonstrations alongside Halls Gap chef Rick Heinrich.

Mr Preston will also lead a panel of Grampians winemakers and a restaurateur on determining the affect certain wines have on a meal.

Musical acts Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses, Buddha in a Chocolate Box, Sons of May, Even the Lion, Luke Bourchier and Rewind 80s will entertain crowds on Saturday and Sunday.

Festival director David Wheaton said this year's festival would be the biggest and best in the event's history.

"In addition to showing off the best food and wine produced in the region, inviting Matt and Tex to the festival takes the event experience to a whole new level," he said.

A proven feature of the event will be the Grampians Winemakers Reserve Shiraz Barrique Auction, a Grape Escape tradition since 1992.

A combination of wines from wineries in the region will go under the hammer on Saturday.

Bests Winery owner Viv Thomson said he was excited to be going attending the event for the 24th time.

"We've been going out every year," he said.

Mr Thomson said attending the event was a no-brainer for the Great Western-based company.

"We're here, it's our event. We're one of the two original wineries in this region," he said.

"Now there's probably about 20 or 30 in this region."

Bests Winery was established in 1866 and the Thomson family bought the business in 1920.

Mr Thomson said wine lovers would not be disappointed by the Bests exhibit.

"We'll be bringing a quite substantial range," he said.

"Being an old winery, we do have a number of unusual varieties alongside classic wines like our shiraz."

Mr Thomson said the addition of Preston would make the event extra special this year.

"He'll be a huge drawcard. He's got great personality and he's a great bloke," he said.

"It's always good to have a drawcard like that and I'm sure we won't be disappointed."

All festival entry tickets include access to live music, cooking demonstrations, entertainment and children's activities.

Mr Wheaton said people could view the full festival program and purchase tickets at www.grampiansgrapeescape.com.au.