winery dining at Vasse Felix
I recently spent a week in the Margaret River region. Lunching at winery restaurants and enjoying cellar-door tastings is a wonderful way to unwind and forget about work, home and anything stressful....
View Articlea day in the Yarra valley – Healesville Hotel and Sticks winery
On Sunday I went exploring in the Yarra Valley armed with my copy of the Foodies Guide. It’s a foodie paradise – cheese, hearty meals, wine, fresh air and time to think. I started at the Yarra Valley...
View Articlemoos and baas
I’ve just got back to Melbourne after spending 3 days with my girlfriend visiting her family in the regional Queensland town of Stanthorpe, in the Granite Belt wine and stone-fruit region. A highlight...
View Articlewining and dining – lunch at De Bortoli winery
One of the relaxing things I did on the weekend was to drive to the Yarra Valley and taste some wonderful wines at various wineries, including De Bortoli. My girlfriend and I enjoyed their Pinot Noir...
View Articlelunch at Brown Brothers in Milawa
I spent the weekend exploring the north-east of Victoria with my girlfriend. The highlight was our experience at Brown Brothers Winery in Milawa, where the wine, service, food and atmosphere were all...
View Articlelunch at Montalto winery
On the weekend I took my girlfriend to lunch for her birthday at the restaurant at Montalto winery on the Mornington Peninsula, which was recently voted the best of its kind in Victoria. It was...
View ArticleVino Vino on Waiheke Island
When I went to Auckland recently I spent two days on Waiheke Island, which is about 40 minutes by ferry to the east of Auckland. It’s primarily rural and wine country, very touristy, with lovely...
View Articlelunch at Stonyridge winery, Waiheke Island
With only two days and one night on Waiheke Island, I tried to make the most of my time. Lunch on the first day was at Stonyridge Winery, which proved to provide an amazing lunch, though I was...
View Articlelunch at Flynns winery, Heathcote
On a recent trip to Echuca via Heathcote my girlfriend and I tasted some excellent white wines and then had lunch at Flynns wines. We love their Verdelho and Viognier and the Sangiovese is also very...
View Articleoh the indignity
I’m not one for reading cute animal stories, so I’m surprised to find myself writing one. Resting on the grounds of the Cape Horn winery near Echuca these recently shorn alpacas were rather endearing....
View ArticleScion winery, Rutherglen
Scion in Rutherglen is one of my favourite and one of the best boutique wineries in Victoria. Vigneron Jan Milhinch is one of the most illuminating people in the wine industry that I have met. She is...
View ArticleThe Victorian wine regions showcase – an unsustainable event?
Update 14 January 2009: I think my critique has been at least partially justified by the 2009 schedule and pricing of the event – it is now $25 (plus $2 glass hire). It appears to be a clear attempt to...
View Articlesummer holidays – lunch at Wild Dog winery, Warragul
To begin the new year, my girlfriend and I drove east from Melbourne to have lunch at the Wild Dog winery just out of Warragul, a choice based on a recent review from Claire at Melbourne gastronome. It...
View Articlelunch at McIvor Estate winery, Tooborac
Last Sunday I visited McIvor Estate winery in Tooborac on the southern side of the Heathcote wine region for lunch. $20 bought a tasting plate of their olives and olive oils, salad and more delicious...
View Articlelunch at Sam Miranda winery, Oxley
While in the King Valley region recently for work I stopped in at the cellar door at Sam Miranda winery in Oxley to buy some wine to give to friends for Christmas. They produce some fantastic wines...
View Articlelunch at Plunkett Fowles Winery, Avenel
Last week my colleagues and I escaped the city for a long leisurely lunch at Plunkett Fowles Winery on the Hume Freeway just north of Seymour. We started with some of their Stone Dwellers Sparkling...
View Articlea visit to Oranje Tractor organic winery, Albany WA
Over the weekend I was fortunate to visit the cellar door of Albany organic winery Oranje Tractor, and I was impressed with their wines. While the sparkling riesling, made by méthode champenoise, was...
View Articlelunch at Bulong Estate winery in the Yarra Valley
I’ve been too busy doing things recently to write about them. On a recent Sunday I took a relative visiting from interstate to lunch at Bulong Estate winery in the Yarra Valley. They offer what they...
View Articlecider and swine lunch at Bress winery in Harcourt
On Sunday I visited Bress winery in Harcourt to partake in a roast pork lunch served on long tables in the winery tank shed. Entree was corn fritters, salad of grilled zucchini, anchovies, cheese and...
View Articlelunch at Tahbilk winery cafe in Nagambie
As someone who enjoys wine and learning enough about it to be able to drink well on a budget, I’ve visited many cellar doors around Victoria and eaten at many of their cafes and restaurants. The cellar...
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