Episode 34: 11 October
The Postcards team has visited some stunning wineries throughout the past year, and this week we take you to some of our favourites. Mandala and Yering Station in the Yarra Valley, Montalto down the Mornington Peninsula, Brandy Creek in Gippsland and the divine Brown Brothers, nestled in one of our famous gourmet centres, Milawa.
Mandala Wines
Recently opened, Mandala Wines is located at Dixon's Creek in Yarra Glen. Owner Charles Smedley gives Suzie a tour of the property, including the cellar door, restaurant and lounge bar. After grazing through the vineyard Suzie calls into the lounge, where you can have a glass of wine and enjoy some fantastic tapas or tastes from the bar menu. What really makes Mandala Wines a top destination is the Mediterranean-influenced restaurant. Run by chef Maura Callegari who makes the most of top local food producers at his doorstep, Maura's focus is on highlighting great food with good wine, and Suzie gets to sample three of his finest dishes. The cellar door at Mandala is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. Check their website for details of their restaurant's opening hours.
Mandala Wines
1568 Melba Highway, Dixons Creek, Yarra Valley
Ph: 03 5965 2016
www.mandalawines.com.au
Brown Brothers and Lindenwarrah
You'll find the Milawa gourmet food and wine region in Victoria's alpine country. If you'd like to stay a while, Lindenwarrah puts you right in the thick of the action. Lindenwarrah is all about sophisticated city style and elegance in a country setting. It's a boutique hotel with some great bells and whistles, including a day spa and an amazing restaurant featuring all the delicious produce you may have spotted out your window on your way into town. Settle into one of the 40 individually decorated bedrooms, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and vineyard views.
When you're ready for a bit of a wander through a winery, Brown Brothers is right across the road. With a combination of vineyards, cellar door and the Epicurean Centre, Brown Brothers is a leader in the business of vino. Ross Brown is an actual Brown brother and he's the Brown brother responsible for developing a cellar door that attracts around 100 thousand people every year. Tasting the wine is all very fine but matching it with food is Ross' passion and that's why he created the Epicurean Centre.
Brown Brothers is open seven days a week and the Epicurean Centre serves lunch daily.
Lindenwarrah
Bobinawarrah Road, Milawa
Ph: 03 5720 5777
www.lindenwarrah.com.au
Brown Brothers
Bobinawarrah Road, Milawa
Ph: 03 5720 5500
www.brownbrothers.com.au
Montalto
Located in rustic Red Hill, just an hour's drive from Melbourne on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, Montalto is a place that can mean many things to many people. To start with, it's a vineyard, but it's also an olive grove, and you never quite know what you might find lurking in the paddocks. The annual Montalto Sculpture Prize is open to all artists working in any medium. You can stop by and enjoy a pizza in the piazza, but the fine dining restaurant is what makes this place worth the detour. Each day chef Barry Davis visits the Estate's fruit, veggie and herb gardens to harvest the best of the bunch for use in the restaurant. He changes the menu daily depending on what he can find. Barry's been doing this since 2003 and every year since then he's won a chef's hat in The Age Good Food Guide.
Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove
33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South
Ph: 03 5989 8412
www.montalto.com.au
Brandy Creek
Nestled into the evergreen hills just north of Warragul, Brandy Creek Wines is keeping Spanish traditions alive. With all the flavours and characteristics of a merlot, the Spanish drops are like a burst of Barcelona on your lips. Don't stop at the wine when, in the one location, you can totally tantalise your gourmet tastebuds at the Gippsland Cheese Tasting Centre. Showcasing the best from local artisan cheesemakers, the Brandy Creek cheeseboard tally is endless. The siesta will have to wait because the folks here know how to turn on a fiery fiesta. A very important Spanish lesson to remember is to slow down and enjoy every mouthful that's dished up by head chef and happy Argentinean, Jose Castro.
Brandy Creek Wines is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10 am and the Paella Fiesta is on once a month.
Brandy Creek Wines
570 Buln Buln Road, Drouin East
Ph: 03 5625 4498
www.brandycreekwines.com.au
Yarra Valley Regional Market and Yering Station
Everyone loves a market and on the third Sunday of each month the Yarra Valley Regional Farmers Market takes place on the grounds of Yering Station in an historic old barn, which dates back to the 1850s. To be a part of this market, which runs from 9am to 2pm, stall holders have to make it, bake it or grow it and must be based in the region.
Once you are finished at the market you can head over to the tasting room at the cellar door at Yering Station, where there's a produce store and wine sampling. And if you have the time, take a moment to sample those wines at a table in Yering Station's Wine Bar Restaurant, located in a spectacular building with expansive views across the Yarra Ranges.
Yering Station
38 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen
Ph: 03 9730 0100
www.yering.com
What's on
Around the Bay in a Day
Get on your bike and join the action at this year's Around the Bay in a Day'. To enter contact Bicycle Victoria.
Where: Port Phillip Bay
When: 18 October 2009
More: Ph 1800 616 600 or visit www.bv.com.au
Whitehorse City Council Spring Festival
Next weekend is the Whitehorse City Council Spring Festival, which features something for everyone, at the Nunawading Civic Gardens.
Where: Civic Gardens, Nunawading (Whitehorse Road)
When: 18 October 2009, 10am - 4pm
More: Visit www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au
BMW Caulfield Cup
And this year's Spring Racing Carnival is well and truly off and racing so make sure you get in on all the action of next Saturday's Caulfield Cup.
Where: Caulfield Race Course
When: Saturday 17 October 2009
More: Visit www.melbourneracingclub.net.au
