Here's a plan. Hire a car for about AUS$50 a day, drive down to Yarra Valley from Melbourne. Spend a blissful day puttering around vineyards and a night at Balgownie- a vineyard and spa that has a glass shower with a view. Wake up in the succulent early hours (maybe take a hot air balloon ride if you have the moolah) or just walk amongst the grapes. Spend another day eating, drinking and wandering the great little produce stores they have here.
Yarra, like Napa in California or Bourdeaux in France or any other wine region are not just for those who worship Dionysus, they are also a heaven for foodies. Here's a little glutton's guide to Yarra.
Day 1:
10am Dominique Portet- a beautiful little vineyard started in 2000 by 9th generation wine-maker Dominique. So though the vineyard is a baby in wine-speak, their roots are deep.
They have a simple menu here- homemade beef pies reminiscent of British pasty, crunchy and hefty on the outside and filled with smoking hot mince. A nice fresh couscous salad and cheeses is lovely for a mid-morning snack. You can even enjoy a game of petanque here, a French version of 'bowls'.
Noon- lunch at Domaine Chandon.
Yes, it's the same family as Moet Chandon. This is a stunning vineyard and as you eat lunch you can enjoy views of the vines.
Food here complements the sparkling variety of vintages so it's gorgeous briny oysters, roe eggs that burst in creamy goodness, smoked trout. There's also plates of antipasti and cheeses of many kinds. At the front of each row of grapes too you can see rose bushes depending on the grapes. White roses denotes white, red means red and for blush wines it's pink roses. Roses are also more sensitive so if there's anything wrong, it will reflect in the roses first before it's too late.
"Stunning views, delicious produce"
After lunch- Yering Station. Take a gander to my favourite produce store. In fact, the first time I came here I went to the farmer's market that runs here on every 3rd Sunday of the month. There I packed up on fresh olive oil, more jam than one can ever eat in a lifetime and buffalo sausages.
So many, many tasty things to buy...
They also have a restaurant here that serves a seasonal menu and very popular for weddings and events.
Late afternoon and dinner- Balgownie Estate and Spa. If you get here early enough, you can enjoy a nice massage to get your digestion going and just enjoy the lovely views from your balcony. You must, MUST have dinner at Rae's- the restaurant here. This is without doubt the best meal I had in Melbourne during the Food and Wine Festival.
Food at Rae's is exquisite, well-prepared and well-presented and beautifully cooked. It was one of those meals you wish would never end and because of the quality of the food, you feel satisfied and full, not bloated.
My meal was a duck and venison sausage, cut into slices then grilled- an intense and wonderful burst of flavour on the tongue. For mains, though I fancied the tenderloin the tender chicken breast kept swimming up from the menu. It was delish- cooked very moist and full of tangy flavour from the mustard seeds. Even the vegetarian dishes here, like the artfully presented risotto was superb. Dessrts like the chocolate and praline fantasy, custard cream with a raspberry meringue and the creme brulee cappucino brought the meal to a sweet end. Do not miss this restaurant.
Now all we had to do was just roll back to our rooms and fall into blissful stupor. Stay tuned for
Part 2
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