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…

ByEd ItorJune 28, 20240Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Chardonnay

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 the wines just continue to…

ByEd ItorJune 21, 20240Comments

VISIT > Yarra Valley

VISIT > Giant Steps Vineyard

Giant Steps was founded by Phil Sexton in 1997 he had come across from Margaret River in Western Australia in search of somewhere to grow and make outstanding Burgundy varietals of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. He the first site near Gruyere planting the Sexton vineyard on the steep slopes of the Warramate Ranges. Being a…

ByEd ItorJune 21, 20240Comments

VISIT > Yarra Valley

VISIT > Wantirna Estate

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 Wantirna is a suburb at the edge of Melbourne's sprawling metropolis. As you drive out towards the Dandenong Ranges, one…

ByEd ItorJune 21, 20240Comments

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Pinotta, Fitzroy North (15/20)

Pinotta has been a busy bustling bistro wine bar on St Georges Road in Fitzroy North since 2011, led by the vibrant Heidi Modra who welcomes guests who come from the neighbourhood and across Melbourne. The big change in 2024 is the addition of Phillipa Sibley as executive chef. Sibley (you may well remember her…

ByCrispyJune 11, 20240Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Cabernet Sauvignon DRINK > WINE > Merlot

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 nature reserves that follow the…

ByEd ItorJune 6, 20240Comments

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Emerald City, Healesville

Almanak does not often write about the places we have not been able to visit yet but this is a place we are very excited about and as soon as we get the chance to update with a proper review we will do so. However in the meantime lets get into what we are…

ByCrispyMay 3, 20240Comments

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Lollo (14/20)

Lollo is a hotel restaurant. There I have said it straight up. And as is the case with many hotel restaurants there are some good and some not so good aspects of that come from being part of a very large hospitality venue and a global hotel chain. Lollo sits fashionably on Melbourne's Flinders Lane…

ByEd ItorApril 24, 20240Comments

EAT EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Sosta Ristorante, North Melbourne (17/20)

An institution of fine dining for the last 15 years Sosta Cucina in Errol Street North Melbourne has changed hands and is now Sosta Ristorante. But its more than just an ownership change the menu while still Italian is more refined, ingredients are premium with a focus on using Australian ingredients to create delicious meals.…

ByMagnum OpusApril 15, 20240Comments

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Bistro Gitan, South Yarra

It had been more than a year since our last visit to Bistro Gitan, a restaurant that was our local for so long, was suddenly not so local given our move across the city and living more of our lives in the country. Bistro Gitan is one of a group of restaurants run by the…

ByCrispyMarch 25, 20240Comments