Day Two With the Winemakers of Rutherglen

Day Two With the Winemakers of Rutherglen

There’s something about staying in the great outdoors and sleeping under the stars which makes you feel closer to nature. And what an incredible view to wake up to, watching the fog rise over the vines soon after sunrise from our bell tents.

I ventured to Cofield Winery’s very own ‘Camp Kitchen’ early in the morning to make a strong cup of coffee and enjoy it in the great outdoors.

Our next stop was Rutherglen Estates where we were treated to a surprise breakfast. The setting was straight out of a Moroccan picnic mood board. And just look at those views!

We warmed up by the fire and feasted on smashed avocado, smoked salmon muffins, croissants and bircher muesli.

And let’s not forget the coffee, served from the cutest trailer. And maybe a cheeky sparkling or two.

It was a magical experience watching the fog subside as the sun rose over the hills.

After breakfast we made our way to the picturesque Lake Moodemere Estate for a white wine tasting. White wines are largely unknown in the region since Rutherglen is most famous for its fortifieds and durif. Hosted by Marc Scalzo (Rutherglen Estates) and Mandy Jones (Jones Winery) the tasting guided us through the lesser known wines starting with riesling to chardonnay.

Lake Moodemere Estate is owned and operated by sixth generation winemaker Michael Chambers and his wife Belinda. It was the perfect spot to sit by the lake, overlooking the sparkling water and soak up the autumn sunshine amongst their 100 year old gardens.

No trip is complete to Lake Moodemere without trying your luck at The Great Lake Moodemere Hole in One. And if you’re successful you win $1,000 worth of wine. Unfortunately my driving skills on this occasion left a little to be desired.

We spent the afternoon cycling our way around Lake Moodemere and its picturesque banks and silver gums, breathing in the country air and taking in the serenity.

After working up at appetite we had the ultimate Aussie BBQ on the back of Michael’s ute with a cheeky glass of Shiraz. The estate grows its very own Moodemere Lamb which are premium free range and a product of Southdown rams and Border Leicester/Merino ewes, known for their exemplary mothering ability. Moodemere lamb has an exceptional marbling and is the closest comparison to the marbling found in wagyu beef. Their lambs also contribute to weed management and soil fertilisation, which eliminates the need for chemical sprays or fertilisers in the vineyard.

In the afternoon, we headed to Buller Wines to check out newly opened Ripe Restaurant. We were treated to a house made gnocchi before indulging in a velvety pannacotta for dessert.

We wrapped up the day at Pfeiffer Wines for ‘Sparkling Speed Dating’ with Wendy Killeen (Stanton and Killeen) and Howard Anderson (Anderson Winery). Pfeiffer wines is a family owned and operated winery nestled on the banks of Sunday Creek. The century old Sunday Creek bridge was a gorgeous spot to enjoy a wine tasting and check out the idyllic surroundings. It was great to get to know the sparkling wines on offer in Rutherglen and appreciate sparkling red to be more than just a wine we drink at Christmas.

Thanks so much to Little Big Marketing and PR and the Winemakers of Rutherglen for having us.

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2 Comments

  1. May 26, 2017 / 5:47 am

    Hi Lisa, thanks so much for your beautiful reflection of your Rutherglen visit. We’re delighted you enjoyed all we have to offer and shared your gorgeous photos and experiences. I hope you’ll be back soon. Cheers for now, Belinda Chambers

    • May 28, 2017 / 10:09 pm

      A pleasure Belinda! It was a beautiful weekend!! Hope to be back very soon xx

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