Victoria’s wineries flourish with brand new offerings
Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove
Floor-to-ceiling windows look out from Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove (Mornington Peninsula) on to grapevines, gardens and bold modern sculptures. Sample Montalto’s range of acclaimed cool-climate wines, including chardonnay, riesling and pinot noir, then move on to the restaurant or the rustic outdoor cafe, where many ingredients are sourced from the organic kitchen garden. A new private dining room has been created in the restaurant, accommodating up to 35 people, and a new tasting room has been added to the cellar door. These changes allow Montalto to look after small groups without disturbing usual operations. For romantics, private epicurean picnics in the garden are also available.
For further information, visit www.montalto.com.au
Seppelt Great Western
The historic Seppelt winery, located in Great Western in western Victoria, is famous for its labyrinth of underground tunnels called ‘The Drives’, where sparkling wines have been stored and bottle-aged since 1868. The daily ‘Deep in the Drives’ tour has operated for many years, but now there are new tour options for groups. An exciting new night tour takes visitors deep into the underground cellars by lantern light. Visitors will be wowed by some special effects! The Vine Lodge afternoon tea is a new add-on to the daytime drives tour, with sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee served in the lodge.
For further information, visit www.seppelt.com.au
Coldstream Hills
Founded by famous wine writer, wine judge and wine maker James Halliday, Coldstream Hills is one of the Yarra Valley’s most awarded boutique wineries. A new Vine and Wine tour is now available for groups at their cellar door, taking visitors on a 90-minute journey demonstrating the wine production process from the vine to the glass. A wine educator provides a behind-the-scenes tour before a structured tasting of the winery’s cool-climate wines begin. Bookings are essential with options to include tasting platters, lunch or a Wine Lovers Master Class.
For further information, visit www.coldstreamhills.com.au
T’Gallant Winemakers and La Baracca Trattoria
This boutique winery and restaurant in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula now offers new food and wine tasting packages that show off the best of the region’s local produce as well as T’Gallant’s superb cool climate wines. Structured food and wine education takes place in T’Gallant’s private tasting room, where a wine educator guides visitors through several varietals, antipasto platters or even cheese platters. You can follow this private tasting with a hearty luncheon in traditional Italian farmhouse style at La Baracca Trattoria. Both experiences are available daily for independent and group travellers. Bookings are essential.
For further information, visit www.tgallant.com.au
Domaine Chandon
Domaine Chandon winery is nestled in the Yarra Valley just one hour from Melbourne. New for 2007 is an upgraded tour route which includes information on Moet and Chandon’s Australian venture and the making of premium sparkling and still wines. Also new is Sunday School, a two-hour wine discovery session held in the historic homestead. Follow the sparkling and still wine-making process from the grape to bottle, including tastings straight from the barrel. For lunch, settle in to the Green Point Room overlooking the spectacular Yarra Ranges.
For further information visit www.domainechandon.com.au