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VISIT > Wantirna Estate
Wantirna is a suburb at the edge of Melbourne's sprawling metropolis. As you drive out towards the Dandenong Ranges, one moment it is traffic lights and shopping strips, the next quiet country streets and then it is the idyllic 10 acres that make up Wantirna Estate.
Set amongst the golf courses and nature reserves that follow the path of the Dandenong Creek, Wantirna is an iconic family vineyard established by Reg and Tina Egan in 1963.
REGION: YARRA VALLEY VARIETALS: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc OPEN HOURS: Only once a year for mailing list subscribers, usualy a weekend in October WINE TASTING: Yes RESTAURANT: No WINE MAKER: Maryann Egan
The winery grows Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a little Merlot. They make only four wines each a stella rendition of the varietal and typical of the magic of cool climate lower Yarra Valley though in truth this area is probably well beyond the boundary most would include when referring to the Yarra Valley wine region.
It is a family business, Reg who started as a lawyer was the original winemaker and he in turn handed that to his daughter Maryann who built her skills working in France both in Burgundy and Bordeaux something that comes through in the structure and elegance of the wines.
The next generation of the family are all named on the bottles; Isabella (the Chardonnay), Lilly (the Pinot Noir), Amelia (Cabernet Merlot)…
DRINK > Above Board, Melbourne
A serious cocktail bar. Only 16 seats and no standing permitted. That is the message for the now…
DRINK > Pearl Chablis and Oyster Bar, Melbourne
Melbourne loves to hide its bars and restaurants away down laneways, underground and on top of building roof tops but…
CAFE > Turret, Tokyo
It doesn’t seem that long ago that finding a decent espresso in Tokyo was quite a difficult thing. There…
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DRINK > BARS
DRINK > Lucinda Wine Bar, Hobart
If you are walking down Collins Street, Hobart you might easily miss Lucinda hidden away in a beautiful historic building but the signage is very subtle. Step inside and you will find a small room with a large central table and bench seats around the outside. They…
DRINK > V Wine Salon, Melbourne
V Wine Salon is located in the slightly unlikely West End of Melbourne's CBD. For those who are less familiar with region it is close to the Southern Cross Train Station which tends to make it an area less obvious as a destination for fine dining or…
DRINK > Above Board, Melbourne
A serious cocktail bar. Only 16 seats and no standing permitted. That is the message for the now widely acclaimed Above Board.
Located off Smith Street Collingwood it is not easy to find but this is an area where cocktail bars are serious and Above Board take that…
DRINK > Pearl Chablis and Oyster Bar, Melbourne
Melbourne loves to hide its bars and restaurants away down laneways, underground and on top of building roof tops but Pearl is not easy to find. The Midcity Centre arcade on Bourke Street is not a place you would normally associate with fine dining or fine drinking, but make…
DRINK > Wine Bar Fleur Parf, Kyoto
It is a quiet street in the Shimogyo Ward of Kyoto where we found Wine Bar Fleur Parf, it is hidden at the end of a long passage (lit by lamps on the ground), past a beautiful courtyard garden to the bar at the back.
There you find a sanctuary…
DRINK > Bar INC, Shibuya
INC is only a few streets away from the chaos of downtown Shibuya but it is in a quiet district with only a few bars and restaurants in the otherwise residential neighbourhood.
Bar INC is a brand new (opened in Feb 2024) stylish underground oasis mixing…
DRINK > WINEWine & Spirit Reviews
WINE > Giant Steps, Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 (95/100 points)
Giant Steps make some sensational wines, predominately Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (though there are also some excellent other varietals). The Sexton Vineyard vines were planted in 1997 based on clones from the iconic Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River by founder Phil Sexton. Over the last twenty seven years…
WINE > Wantirna Estate, Amelia 2016 94/100
Wantirna is a suburb at the edge of Melbourne's sprawling metropolis. As you drive out towards the Dandenong Ranges, one moment it is traffic lights and shopping strips, the next quiet country streets and the idyllic 10 acres that make up Wantirna Estate. Set amongst the golf courses and…
WINE > Domaine de Bargylus Vin Rouge, Grand Vin de Syrie 2014 (90/100)
It is not often someone says to you, I have a really interesting wine for you to try its excellent and it comes from Syria. Syria, like near Lebanon? War torn, beautiful, predominantly Islam country, I can't even imagine how they could make wine there. Ok wow, for…
