Words by Amanda Kennedy Images: Still Smiths
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, the new cellar door at Austin’s Wines is one such child. Founders Pamela and Richard Austin started with just a five-acre block in a yet-to-be-discovered part of the Moorabool Valley called Sutherlands Creek.
By 1990, the now 150 acres of vines produced a bumper crop and Richard was forced to rope in their son Scott to help. Come 2021, it was time to convert the shearing shed to a cellar door but cellar doors don’t come cheap.
Scott and his partner Belinda decided to try crowdfunding to help make their dreams become reality. It was a roaring success. The innovative project attracted 500 supporters keen to play part-time winemaker in return for their investment.
The Rent-A-Vine program provided a unique opportunity to get hands-on in the vineyard over a 12-month period, from picking grapes and crushing, pruning (yeah, you don’t get out of that) through to blending and tasting, the fun part. Plus, two dozen bottles of your own pinot noir for the cellar.
At a time when restaurant wine sales had dropped off thanks to a Covid-led hospitality downturn, the crowdfunding project was able to raise cash and move stock at the same time. All the while building a new legion of fans for Austin’s Wines.
The new cellar door is a classy transformation of the original property’s shearing shed. Belinda Austin explains, “It was just too much of a good opportunity with its prime position, beautiful views, lots of space and close to the other amenities. It’s nice to have a bit of history. It’s a mix of old and new; we’ve tried to retain as much of the original structure and keep it as authentic as possible.”
Whether you choose to grab a cheese plate and head outside for an impromptu picnic or book a guided masterclass at the bar, you’re assured a warm welcome.
We just want people to feel comfortable here, to feel like they don’t need to know everything about wine. It’s a premium experience but one that is authentic and approachable.
Fingers crossed, the cellar door is due to open by the end of January.
THE DETAILS
WHAT: Austin’s Wines
WHERE: 870 Steiglitz Rd, Sutherlands Creek
WHEN: Thursday – Monday 11am – 5pm
MORE INFO: Austin’s Wines
We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
It is a place that is filled with a rich history, both recent and more ancient. A place of sweeping landscapes, enchanting waterways and stunning scenic drives, all within an easy drive out of Melbourne.
On the edge of the Yarra Valley is the (in)famous Black Spur Drive. Marvel as the road twists and turns beneath towering eucalypts and movie-worthy mist. Soon enough you arrive in Marysville, a pretty little town with a big heart. It is also a convenient jumping-off point to visit Lake Mountain, with plenty for adventure seekers no matter the time of year.
Next up is the town of Eildon and one of Victoria’s largest man-made lakes, with a whopping 500km coastline. 
Our next stop is Yea – yay! A perennially popular stopping-off point to refuel both the car and the driver, Yea easily recalls the grandeur of the area’s gold mining past with historic buildings and graceful wide streets. It is also where the Goulburn River meets the Yea River and the 
A short drive and it’s on to the district of Trawool, for there is no township as such. It is here that the Goulburn Valley Hwy plays cat and mouse with the Goulburn River and its lagoons. Holiday makers have been visiting Trawool Valley from the early 1900s to take in the area’s scenic charms and it’s easy to see why. A visit to the iconic 
Next stop is Tallarook and the start of the 134 km 
A short drive from Tallarook is Seymour, located on the banks of the beautiful Goulburn River. Very much the platonic ideal of a country town with its wide, welcoming streets and riverside parks, Seymour has always been a major stop on the Melbourne-Sydney route. The area has also had strong military connections since the establishment of a nearby training camp prior to WW1 and then later Puckapunyal Army Base.
The historic township of Avenel was established in 1849 as a stop-over point between Melbourne and Albury. It is also known as the place where Ned Kelly’s family lived in the 1806s. Ned is now known as a bushranger and outlaw, but he was once hailed a hero after rescuing a young boy from drowning in a local creek. 
Nagambie calls and it’s our next stop. It is little wonder wineries are a great drawcard of Nagambie and surrounds. The cool climate (influenced by the Goulburn River and Lake Nagambie) combined with the area’s red sandy loam soil adds up to a distinctive wine region.
Our last stop is Euroa at the foothills of the Strathbogie Ranges. You’re definitely in Kelly country now – Ned Kelly and his gang bank robbed a local bank here in 1878. These days the town is a good base to explore the nearby Strathbogies, take a scenic drive to the Gooram waterfalls or perhaps take a quick dip in one of the popular swimming holes if weather allows.
There is an abundance of performance and culturally instilled events taking place during Ignite, making up the core of the festival program.
As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, you know you’re in for a real (culinary) treat no matter when you visit Bendigo. But come time for the Ignite Festival, and the city’s cafes, restaurants and bars put their best foot forward with a whole series of specially-curated events showcasing the best in local food and drink.
Another sure way to warm up during the chilly months is with some sweet melodies and stories – blues on the Victorian Goldfields Railway train or live at Castlemaine’s Taproom, a two-day festival of 
The festival program has all the hands-on folk covered too, with workshops and masterclasses that will ignite a passion for cooking, creating, cheesemaking and croissant-ing (don’t mind our love for alliteration).