Episode 7: Wineries
With so many wineries to tempt our tastebuds, it's always hard to choose just a few to showcase. We hope that a combination of De Bortoli, Jinks Creek Winery, Michelini, Ainsworth Estate and Crittenden Estate will be the perfect drops for all to enjoy with this week's show.
De Bortoli
One of the Yarra Valley's most popular destinations would have to be the family-run De Bortoli Wines. Sitting on top of a hill at Dixon's Creek, the winery took out the honours at this year's Australian Tourism Awards for Best Tourism Winery. The restaurant was recently revamped with new décor, and a new head chef has been installed - Tim Keenan along with his partner, pastry chef Alison Thompson. The emphasis of their seasonal menu is on simple, memorable food in the Italian tradition with ingredients sourced locally.
After lunch you can enjoy tastings at the cellar door, which not only showcases the best of De Bortoli's wines but also houses a produce store. That store stocks some of the rarest cheeses in the country and is overseen by cheese maker Richard Thomas, who spent time honing his craft in Europe.
De Bortoli Wines
Pinacle Lane, Dixons Creek
Ph: 03 5965 2271
www.debortoli.com.au
Crittenden Estate
Sometime soon you'll need to set your radar for Dromana. Wedged in the centre of the Mornington Peninsula are some of the state's best cool climate wines, and a welcome find is Crittenden Estate. Crittenden is first and foremost a winery. It's been around the peninsula for a quarter of a century but it seems to be attracting a lot more attention with its current crop of exceptional reds and whites. Next door at the Stillwater restaurant, owner and chef Zac Poulier uses his extensive experience from kitchens around the world to create outstanding dishes that compliment Crittenden's wonderful wines. Now be warned! You could easily over indulge so our suggestion is an overnight stay at the property's lakeside villas. Perched above the expansive private lake the three stand-alone villas fit perfectly in this tranquil environment. Think 'state-of-the-art' going hand-in-hand with nature and you kind of get the picture. The one-bedroom villas come with king size beds, self-contained kitchens, spas and all the latest gadgetry.
Crittenden Estate
25 Harrisons Road, Dromana
Ph: 03 5981 8322
www.crittendenwines.com.au
Lakeside Villas
Ph: 03 5987 3275
Stillwater at Crittenden
Ph: 5981 9555
www.stillwateratcrittenden.com.au
Jinks Creek Winery
The wonderfully rustic Jinks Creek Winery is a real 'get away from it all' kind of place, but it's only a fifty-minute drive from the city. You'll find it on the edge of Gippsland, near the secluded town of Tonimbuk. The vines produce award-winning pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay and rose, which are all available to taste in the refurbished 100-year-old woolshed. There's also an art gallery where you'll find works by portrait artist Esther Erlich and Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight, and a restaurant where wood-fired pizzas are a feature. And if you decide you'd like to stay a while, you can always retire to the pretty-as-a-picture, cosy three-bedroom cottage, where a soak in the spa and a bit of a nanna nap on the shady veranda might be just what the doctor ordered.
Jinks Creek Winery
1720 Tonimbuk Road, Tonimbuk
Ph: 03 5629 8502
www.jinkscreekwinery.com.au
Ainsworth Estate
Ainsworth Estate winery has been described as the jewel of the Yarra Valley, and when this place is ripe for the picking you can be part of something special. This is one of the only places you can get so involved in the winemaking process, with picking usually occurring between February and April. The rest of the winemaking process and bottling is all done offsite, so once your work is done you can enjoy one of Ainsworth's famous feeds. The open-deck restaurant at Ainsworth has a solid reputation for cranking out awesome food. Whether it's lunch, dinner or a tasting next door, your taste buds are in for a treat. And if you feel like putting in some serious hours at Ainsworth Estate, they've got some accommodation on the property. Put your feet up out on the private deck overlooking the vines and distant mountains after a hard day in the vineyard.
Ainsworth Estate
110 Ducks Lane, Seville
Ph: 03 5964 4711
www.ainsworth-estate.com.au
Myrtleford
The Great Alpine Road stretches from Wangaratta all the way to Bairnsdale, and 300 kilometres north of Melbourne you'll find the small town of Myrtleford. Once you get here you should ditch the car, hop on your bike and hit the Murray to Mountain Rail Trail. Along the way Plump Harvest is an early morning favourite. This big café in the centre of town is turning local produce into wicked biscuits, cakes and tarts. A little further down the road is Michelini's Wines, where they've been making wine for 150 years. If a great sense of humour is the key to success, then the Michelini Brothers have it by the barrel load. Back on the rail trail the going is easy and the countryside is beautiful. The final stop is the award-winning restaurant Range, where local chef Sean Ford is serving up clean food delivered straight from nature. Last year Range took out best country restaurant in The Age Good Food Guide; an achievement that's helped put Myrtleford on the map.
Plump Harvest
72 Myrtle Street (Great Alpine Road), Myrtleford
Ph: 03 5752 2257
www.plumpharvestproduce.com.au
Michelini Wines
Great Alpine Road, Myrtleford
Ph: 03 5751 1990
www.micheliniwines.com.au
Range
258 Great Alpine Road, Myrtleford
Ph: 03 5752 2885
www.range.net.au
What's on
Rip Curl Pro
The Rip Curl Pro is Australia's longest running and most prestigious professional surfing event, and is being held at the iconic Bells Beach over the next two weeks.
Where: Bells Beach
When: 6 - 18 April 2009
More: Ph 03 5261 2907 or visit www.surfingaustralia.com
Bendigo Easter Fair
Head to Bendigo between next Friday and Monday to share in all the delights of this year's Bendigo Easter Festival.
Where: Bendigo
When: 10 - 13 March 2009
More: Ph 1800 813 153 or visit www.bendigoeasterfestival.org.au
Chadstone Easter Egg Decorating
For some holiday fun this Easter, head to Chadstone the Fashion Capital, where kids can get creative and participate in free Easter egg decorating workshops daily.
Where: Chadstone Shopping Centre
When: 6 - 10 April 2009 (11am 2pm)
More: Visit www.chadstoneshopping.com.au
Australia Post Stawell Gift
Experience the carnival atmosphere and all the action on and off the track at next weekend's Stawell Gift.
Where: Stawell
When: 10 - 13 April 2009
More: Visit www.stawellgift.com
