Yal Yal Estate extends residence with stunning cellar door

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As resident dog Sebastian bounds up to say hello, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve stumbled upon an extended family gathering.

Hosts Liz and Simon Gillies designed Yal Yal Estate’s new cellar door as an extension of their home. The bijou cellar door opens up onto a deck, creating the perfect spot to sit with a glass of their estate-grown Chardonnay while sharing a platter of local produce with friends. With a strict limit of 20 guests, bookings are essential.

Vines were first planted on the Mornington Peninsula property in 1997 and the Yal Yal Estate label launched in 2010. The vineyard is managed with a low yield/high-quality approach, producing 2,500 cases a year of Chardonnay, Rose and Pinot Noir. A similar philosophy applies to the winemaking side of things, allowing the fruit and terroir to speak for themselves.

Winemaker Rollo Crittenden brings his passion and years of knowledge to the fore while embracing the beauty and finesse of wild fermentation.

Inspired by the pristine environment of the Mornington Peninsula, an area of stunning natural beauty and blessed with excellent cool-climate growing conditions, the Gillies are committed to producing wines that are a true expression of the place. Respect for the vineyard is evident as they work to improve soil health along with minimal use of chemicals.

We are indeed fortunate that the Gillies family have opened up their ideal corner of the world with a wider audience.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Yal Yal Estate
WHERE: 21 Yal Yal Rd, Merricks
WHEN: Friday to Sunday 12noon – 5pm, bookings essential
MORE INFO: Yal Yal Estate

Breweries, bars and distilleries of Ballarat

Words by Amanda Kennedy
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It’s no surprise that Ballarat’s long association with brewing and distilling began with the Gold Rush. With water often being undrinkable on the goldfields, beer was an obvious alternative. This legacy can be seen today in a city whose university offers a two-year course in brewing.

Ballarat boasts plenty of spots to sample locally made beverages but to taste what the region really has to offer head to one of the following.

Aunty Jacks

The moment you ask around about craft beer in Ballarat Aunty Jacks comes up time and again. Although a relative newcomer, it has fast become a go-to for all things craft beer. Whether you stay for a meal, grab a tasting paddle and listen to some live music or join in on the regular beer education classes, Aunty Jacks has it covered.

But the real stand-out has to be drinking a cold one only metres from where it’s made; it doesn’t come any fresher than that.

Check out their offerings here

Cubby Haus Brewing

It was an obsession with real ale that led Cubby Haus founders to design and build themselves a brewery, as you do. Five years on, they’ve developed a strong following. With eight core beers and plenty of single batch experiments, there’s something for everyone from a refreshing pilsner or an English IPA through to darker treats like their Oatmeal Stout.

Find out more

Dollar Bill Brewing

They say good things come to those who wait. This just about sums up Dollar Bill’s approach to fermentation. Beers (as well as ciders and meads) are given plenty of time in French oak barrels to reach their peak. It’s this exacted barrel-ageing process along with a mastery of wild fermentation that has cemented the brewery’s reputation amongst craft beer nerds.

Each seasonal release of the Parlay beer is eagerly anticipated by the brewery’s legion of loyal fans. Though the sour, complex flavours can be challenging at first, patience and persistence is rewarded.

Take a closer look here

Red Duck Beer

In 2005 Scott and Vanessa Wilson-Browne started out with a simple plan – to make good beer that is good for you. Showcasing their commitment to natural ingredients and processes, their recent coffee and chocolate dark beer uses grain, coffee beans and cocoa sourced from local Ballarat producers.

Getting together with some friends? The obvious choice has to be the Quack Pack with 24 cans so you can experience the full Red Duck treatment.

Head here to find out more

Kilderkin Distillery

Scott Wilson-Browne (yes, the same Scott from Red Duck) and Chris Pratt initially bonded over craft beer but it was a shared interest in distilling that led them to establish Kilderkin Distillery in 2016.

Though their whisky is yet to hit the market, there are six different gins to tempt your tastebuds. The Original Larrikin Gin with its blend of Australian botanicals is a natural starting off point to explore the range.

Although the distillery is presently between cellar door locations, you can still find Larrikin Gin through local outlets as well as via their online store.

Keep up to date with all the goings-on here

O’Brien Beer

A diagnosis of coeliac disease didn’t dampen John O’Brien’s passion for beer. Swapping out the usual grain bill of barley and wheat for sorghum and millet was just the beginning. It took several years of innovation in both the brewing process and equipment but his effort paid off in spades.

Since launching the first commercial beer in 2005, O’Brien Beer has snagged over 40 international awards. And you don’t have to be gluten-free to enjoy it.

Order online or visit Hop Temple

Seville Estate welcomes a cool new container bar

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For those who want to combine an easy-breezy winery experience with an edgy inner-city bar vibe, this Yarra Valley destination is for you.

Introducing Container Bar, a new venue launched by the legends over at Seville Estate Winery. Nestled in the Phillip Johnson native garden on the edge of Seville Estate, the wine bar features everything you’d expect from the crew; exceptional wine, seasonal produce and a chill atmosphere in which to enjoy the views.

Open on the weekends between 11am and 5pm, punters can either walk-in or plan ahead with bookings for up to ten people. Whether you’re popping by to sample some of the stellar tipples from Seville Estate, or fancy a full day of drinks, cheese and oysters, this is your one-stop shop.

The good news doesn’t stop there though. In preparation for end of year festivities, the crew has launched a series of exclusive dining experiences, tailored specifically for groups. Hosted in their lush outdoor patio, guests can expect a three-course luncheon – kicked off at 11:30am and in the container bar, of course – designed to share and reconnect. It’s COVID-safe, scrumptious and makes for the perfect Christmas party.

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate the end of 2020 and we’re finding it hard to imagine a more relaxing, nourishing way to do it than at one of these killer venues. Knocking back some Chardonnay in an industrial-style container with the summer breeze on your skin; laughing with friends over oysters and experiencing the best service in the Yarra Valley… Well, let’s just say we’ll see you there.

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Container Bar
WHERE: 65 Linwood Road, Seville
WHEN: Weekends between 11am and 5pm
MORE INFO: Seville Estate Winery

Healesville is scoring a new winery and cellar door by Jayden Ong

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One of Victoria’s most exciting winemakers and the co-owner of the iconic Cumulus Inc, Jayden Ong is on track to open a brand-new winery and cellar bar in the Yarra Valley in January 2021.

Tucked in the very heart of Healesville, the new venue will showcase wines from Ong’s four labels – bottled up the road at Chestnut Hill Winery and along the coast in Dromana – as well as indoor/outdoor dining areas and a contemporary events space.

For over ten years Ong has been growing, harvesting and bottling wine in the region, impressing the industry with his innovative approach to winemaking without too much fanfare. He says the cellar bar and winery will be a place for locals and travellers to enjoy excellent wine, without the fuss.

“We wanted to build something from the ground up where we could deal directly with people face to face,” Ong said. “What we’re going to offer is a sharp product with wine, food, service and ambience. Somewhere for people to feel comfortable without having to sit on Ikea chairs.”

His One Block, Maison de Ong, Moonlit Forest and eponymous Jayden Ong labels all features on the wine list, and are joined by other select local wines and a stellar international collection.

If you fancy sampling all the fruits of Ong’s labour, the team is offering Wine Experiences – a generous wine tasting run entirely by those who made it. The aim, Ong says, is to educate and enthral sommeliers and newbies alike in the rich winemaking process.

We want wine to be inclusive, rather than restrictive. I think, let’s get everyone participating, relaxed and having fun.

Food wise you can expect the same level of detail found at Cumulus Inc, if not the size. Japanese chargrilling is the hero here, with other small bites like cheese boards, mussels and tasty offerings from Meatsmith and The Cheesemaker being the sidekick. All produce either comes from Ong’s organic garden or other local pastures, so freshness is guaranteed.

At the helm of the news digs are Ong and his wife Morgan. The duo collaborative runs their vineyard in Mount Tollebewong, the Yarra Valley’s highest vineyard by elevation, and tend to it with entirely organic and biodynamic practices – setting them apart from many key players.

“The bare minimum is organic for us. It’s important for general health, wellbeing, satisfaction and peace of mind. The net result is you get much better, stronger plants and you’re not reliant on agrochemicals.”

That level of pride and commitment to excellence seeps into everything Ong does, and we’re certain the new cellar bar and winery will be no exception. Opening in January 2021, it’s going to be epic.

Say ‘Hay’ to Fowles Wine’s new dining room

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Fowles Wine is changing the game with a new outdoor dining space just in time for summer.

The winery, located in Avenel just 90minutes from Melbourne, has embraced the push for outdoor dining with plenty of creativity. With the help of some creative friends and some hay bales, the team quickly built some outdoor hay bale ‘dining rooms’.

The hay bale dining rooms, set on the winery’s sprawling lawns, are in addition to existing outdoor spaces including the picturesque 50m long Feasting Arbour, covered with flowering wisteria vines. Each bay of the arbour has a picnic table with umbrellas for the ideal alfresco lunch, before moving to the lawns for a post-lunch laydown.

The Terrace offers more al fresco dining options amongst the herb garden that provides flavour and freshness for kitchen.

Outdoor lovers have plenty to love at Fowles Wine with an expansive native garden, designed by Philip Johnson. Wander through the banksias, flowering gums and bottle trees, or take the kids to the sheep paddock to feed the hand-reared lambs.

“I wanted to create a haven for diners to safely escape and reconnect,” Matt Fowles said. “It was important for me to make it easy for people to enjoy nature while indulging in beautiful food and wine.”

The outdoor menu has been designed for a casual fine dining experience with fare from the open-air kitchen. Use the contact-less ordering system on your mobile to order a serve of brochettes, skewers that combine local ingredients in new ways. The culinary team source ingredients from their own and nearby farms, weaving the seasonal, local produce into ideal pairings to enjoy with a glass or two of Fowles Wine. The indoor kitchen and dining room follow a similar philosophy that favours local produce and a nose-to-tail ethos.

If you’re heading to the Strathbogie Ranges this summer, don’t forget to say ‘hay’ at Fowles Wines.

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Fowles Wines
WHERE: Corner Hume Fwy and Lambing Gully Rd, Avenel VIC 3664
WHEN: Now
MORE INFO: Fowles Wines

Sedona Estate

The Yea Valley is a wine region you might not have heard of. Technically it’s “Upper Goulburn”, but that really doesn’t adequately encompass the uniqueness of the Yea Valley. It’s just a short drive on from the Yarra Valley, though some of the most stunningly beautiful high country in Victoria. Sedona Estate sits perched on a hillside overlooking the rolling hills of the Yea Valley, where Paul Evans and Sonja Herges have built a winery, cellar door, and a livelihood crafting wines to write home about.

Paul has an impressive resume (Chandon, Oakridge), but that’s not what’s important here. You’ll get lost in the moment, the gorgeous surrounds, and the impeccable wines. Yes, there’s a shout to his past experience with some stunning sparkling wines, but he’s so passionate about what their piece of dirt is capable of producing that you’ll soon get lost too in the heady peppery cool climate reds produced from this estate. The Sangiovese was a highlight, weighted like a coastal pinot noir, but packing flavour like a cabernet. Sangi has to be the next up-and-coming thing in red wines. It will be if it keeps showing up and winning awards like the Sedona version. It’s just so drinkable.

Helen and Joey Estate

A winery with a name is not unusual. Most are named for families, properties, or a geographical feature. In France, wines are named for the place – the region, the Chateau (winemaking house) and the quality of the vineyard. It’s refreshing to find a placed named simply for the names of the two people who own it. Helen and Joey have hit the ground running since purchasing the Fernando vineyard a few years back. In short order, Helen has made a passionate lunge at carving out a corner of the Yarra Valley wine industry.

The cellar door is a simple building perched on the hill with amazing views across the valley floor to the ranges beyond. Keep an eye out for a few unicorns between. The focus is squarely on the wines, made skilfully by Meg Brodtmann. The range is extensive, but the core is always the Alena, Layla, and Inara wines, expressing the strengths of the valley in chardonnay, pinot, syrah and cabernet. Take a look at the ‘Wayward Child’ labelled wines, too. The skin-contact pinot gris is rosé pink, and textural.

Simple local produce platters can be taken out onto the deck, and with a few glasses of vino, you can while away an afternoon with friends, watching the light change across the valley.

Rob Dolan Wines

Nestled just beyond the edges of Melbourne’s leafy outer east, Rob Dolan’s winery and cellar door is no half-hearted affair. The winery is a big thing (like Rob), and the cellar door, though casual, friendly and warm (like Rob), is still super-professional (like Rob).

If you’re thinking ‘Do I know that name from somewhere?’, let’s just run through a quick potted history of the Yarra Valley legend that is Mr Rob Dolan. Brands he’s launched have included Yarra Ridge, Punt Road, and Sticks. He’s managed Mildara Blass (Victoria). He’s the winemaker behind a bunch of success stories in the Yarra Valley. So many winemakers have worked for him or with him at some point that the region should really be called ‘The Dolan Valley’. If that still doesn’t ring any bells, Rob ‘Sticks’ Dolan played in the ruck for Port Adelaide.

The cellar door is the perfect setting for a casual sampling of wines from Rob’s three ranges. All are well targeted and great examples of the generosity of flavour and spirit in his winemaking approach. The platters offer a selection of regional produce and are a perfect way to indulge with some time on the lawn or sitting at the tasting bar. Jack from Stone and Crow makes cheese in a corner of the facility out the back, and OHO’s own Caro makes jams and preserves under Rob’s label, too. A platter with a few of these extraordinary delights is worth a little trip to Warranwood. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for special events and after-work drinks.

The Bellarine Taste Trail

The Bellarine Peninsula has been many things to many people. It was once home to the Wathaurong people, who harvested spoils from the ocean to survive; European occupation saw the region quickly become a leading supplier of grain to Melbourne.

Then at the end of the 19th century, we witnessed the arrival of holidaymakers, tourists and seachangers.

These days visitors to the area will be astonished at the richness of food and wine experiences. Travel the interweaving roads of this undulating peninsula, and you will discover fruit- and vegetable-farm gates, deep rows of olive trees, award-winning cheeses, cellar doors with breathtaking views, first-rate dining experiences and the region’s iconic Australian Blue Mussels.

Here’s our suggested itinerary to get you started.

Discover more on the Bellarine Taste Trail website.

Cheeky Grog Cider Co

If you’re an apple grower, and you see the premium paid for cider apples and the further value-add from making cider, it’s really a no-brainer to have a bit of a look at selling your own stuff. Cheeky Grog have nailed the concept of grower-turns-brewer with their roadside cider house. With orchards everywhere in the surrounding fields, it’s both no surprise and an absolute delight to find that someone is taking the fruit and turning it into the makings of a fab Friday night.

The list of ciders on taste is long, and there’s something for everyone’s palate. Some medal-winning drops are on taste too, and of course available for you to take home.

For anyone after adventurous flavours, they’re doing some funky things with brettanomyces (“brett”), much as beer brewers are doing. It’s not for everyone, but it’s interesting and a bit of fun.

The outdoor lounge area is fantastically created from old fruit bins, with sprawling timber lounge chairs and tables for group tastings, or for enjoying a few slow cold ones and something to eat. The kitchen has a short simple menu, which on the weekends includes wood-fired pizzas. Regular live music happens out there on the lawn too.

Of course, you can just pull in to the roadside stall and, old-school honesty-box style, pick up a bag of apples or pears.

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