We had a target to reach today.
After having completed five tastings yesterday, the goal for today was at least five wineries, plus a break for lunch!
First stop was De Bortoli, and we were not only the only ones there, but we were the first customers for the day.
The countryside looked amazing and the weather was (almost) perfect for a winter’s day in Victoria. Many locals we met during our time in the Yarra Valley commented on just how green everything was – apparently that is unusual for this time of year.
We were impressed by the large range of wines on offer at De Bortoli. Not only did they have bottles of wines made in the Yarra Valley, but they also had a few of their wines from their other vineyards in Rutherglen, Riverina and the Hunter Valley. This is an experienced winemaking group – now up to its fourth generation. You can’t help but be impressed by its history and achievements.
The $10 tasting fee was refundable. We left here with a bottle of their ‘bubbles’ plus we bought a dozen to be sent to Queensland (with a 10% discount). The case included some ‘museum’ wines which I spotted in this bin while the others were tasting.
After a very satisfying experience at De Bortoli, we headed to Steels Gate Wines, a five minute drive northwards, only to discover that it was not open. My navigator and tour guide(s) had let the team down slightly by not doing the research necessary for our day’s itinerary.
So, heading south we stopped at Mandala, a winery we noticed on our way to De Bortoli. There were two options for tasting – $10 to taste five of the Estate Range wines, or $15 to sample six of the Single Site Reserve wines. Mick decided to splurge here.
Again, we were the only customers at this time and we had the full attention of the cellar door host, who was very passionate and knowledgeable about the wines. He also was not very good at counting, as everyone was able to taste as many wines as he or she liked.
We left here after ordering a 6-pack of their red wines to be sent to Queensland. But, we also took with us two bottles of (2015) Merlot cleanskins for $15 each which were in a bargain bin at the front door. We learnt that their merlot vines were being replaced by other grape varieties, as apparently merlot has gone out of fashion.
Now it was time for lunch, and thankfully we had identified a winery close by that had a restaurant …… before we left Healesville this morning.
We all enjoyed our selections for lunch at Yarrawood, sipping (sensibly) glasses of water with our food followed by coffees and desserts (for some).
During lunch, Darryl commented that he would really like to visit a small winery if we could find one during our stay, saying that he and Maree had enjoyed coming across some small, single owner wineries in South Australia when they were visiting last year, and this was where they had had some of their best experiences.
Then it was time for a wine tasting.
I cannot recall a fee being charged for the tasting, but perhaps that was because we each bought some wines and no fees were paid. We picked up another bargain of 6 bottles (of cabernet merlot) here, as it seemed that most wineries were getting rid of excess stock before the end of the financial year. We had definitely picked the right time of year to visit.
The cellar door host was of Italian descent and gave an ‘interesting’ commentary about the wines the three were tasting. She clearly did not like, or drink white wines – but the reds she loved!
We asked her for advice about where to go next and she insisted that we must visit Yering Farm.
So, off we headed in search of her recommendation.
The navigator was sure he had the right ‘coordinates’ to get us to Yering Farm, but in fact we stopped a little too soon at a completely different, possibly more well-known and quite separate winery called Yering Station.
Yering Station is Victoria’s oldest vineyard, having been established in 1838. And it was here that we had the worst wine tasting experience in the Yarra Valley trip.
Why?
The cellar door host seemed pleasant, the bar and tasting area was large with a number of other patrons there at the same time, and the artwork on the walls was eye-catching (apparently the artist was one of the other cellar door hosts) and pricy.
Here there were three tasting fee options – $10 (for the Village label), $15 (for the Estate label), and $25 (for the Single Vineyard & Reserve label). Each was refundable with a purchase.
Mick went for the Reserve label tasting and Darryl chose the Village label.
Maree had pulled up stumps for the day, so like me she enjoyed a wander around the cellar door, where we kept our eyes out for ‘bargains’ while the boys tasted.
But while the boys stood side-by-side at the bar for their tastings, the cellar door host definitely focussed more attention on Mick and his impressions of the wines, while almost totally ignoring Darryl. It was so obvious and cringe-worthy that we were all glad to leave.
Once back in the car, the Tasting Committee indicated they had had enough for the day. But, they hadn’t reached their goal, and I am not one to let that happen easily.
As we headed back towards Healesvillle to our little (not-so-cute) cottage, I spotted a sign to Yering Farm Wines. I made the decision to drive up the long, and slightly muddy dirt track to the cellar door, but there was little objection from the Three Amigos as they knew this was the place we had been advised to visit by our (new) Italian friend.
And it was here, that one of Darryl’s wishes was granted.
Yering Farm Wines was very small and its cellar door was a converted barn.
Our host here was ‘the’ most passionate cellar door host we had come across. Aged in her early twenties, she knew her wines and knew how to describe the characteristics of each of them.
She told us the story of how she came to be working at Yering Farm Wines. She and some friends had participated in a guided wine-tasting tour and one of the stops was Yering Farm Wines. The next day, she said, she returned with her resume stating that this was the only winery she wanted to work in.
There was a non-refundable tasting fee of $10 here, and all of us enjoyed this stop.
Mick left with two bottles of their wines and a bottle of their cider (for $8) – what a bonus!!
Now it was definitely time to go back to our accommodation.
Mick cooked us a fabulous steak with a red wine jus made from the Mandala Merlot for our dinner.
As tomorrow would be the last day for tasting, a more serious session of planning was undertaken to ensure the remaining wineries on each person’s ‘wish list’ could be accommodated.
Fingers crossed!
PS – the Mandala $15 Merlot was fantastic – so much so that it was decided that we go back tomorrow for some more.
Jane and Mick's Holiday Adventures 