VICTORIA'S Yarra Valley Grape Grazing Festival will be permanently moved from its traditional date in February so it no longer coincides with the bushfire season. 

Last year's festival was held in April after the event was cancelled because of the February 7 bushfires and the continuing threat they posed.

Richard Howden, general manager of the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association, which owns and manages the event, said wineries would meet to discuss a new date.

"We will be meeting with wineries in the near future to discuss the format of the festival and select an appropriate new date," he said in a statement on Sunday.

"We are looking at moving in a new and exciting direction to offer the ultimate fine wine and food event for the Yarra Valley.

"We have celebrated the Grape Grazing Festival for 22 years and it has become the benchmark regional food and wine festival in Australia, so we are determined to continue to improve the festival to ensure it maintains this status.

"We are all excited about the chance to review some new ideas and ensure the festival reflects our position as Australia's leading fine wine region."

Mr Howden encouraged visitors to come to the Yarra Valley to support the community and wineries hit hard by the bushfires.

"We think that February will be a time that people will want to reflect and remember Black Saturday," he said.

"At some stage we would like to see a small community-based festival in February, but it would be a low-key event that honours what people in the Yarra Valley have gone through."