La Cantina winery were our hosts for this month’s outing held at their beautiful stone cellar door.  Linda Cortini imparted her extensive knowledge of their organic wines.  As there are no preservatives in their wines the fruitiness comes through more strongly.
 
We then journeyed to our lunch venue - King River Cafe - and enjoyed a wonderful lunch and each other’s company.

Our next outing is to Campbells Winery at 4603 Murray Valley Highway Rutherglen. Lunch venue is still being explored.  Meeting behind Aldi’s at 10.00 a.m.
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RSVPs by Sunday 22 May--phone/text 0428 696 408 or email nicnakmac90@gmail.com.  

Nicole McFarlane

Bev Thornell

PLEASE NOTE - A change in plans for our winery visit this month.   

The new venue is PIZZINI WINES, 175 King Valley Road, Whitfield.    The tasting is set up for a seated experience.   There are a range of tasting options starting at $10 for their Everyday Italian Wines.    If you have a particular wine you would like to taste, please let me know when RSVPing! So that Mario can have it available.

We will then make our way to the Mountain View Hotel,  4 King Valley Rd, Whitfield.    Lunch is in two sittings and we are booked for 1315. (awaiting confirmation at time of writing).

Meet at the tennis court car park in Barkly Street behind Aldi at 9.45 am.  

Please contact Nicole by Sunday 20th February to let me know if you will be attending as I need to confirm numbers with both venues.

I can be contacted on 0428 696 408 or email nicnakmac90@gmail.com.  Look forward to seeing you.

​Nicole

Welcome back and welcome to our new members.   Our first wine tasting for the year will be held on Wednesday 23rd February at Delatite Winery, 390 Pollards Rd Mansfield.

I have booked the option that is a hosted wine tasting of around 5-7 wines at $10.00 per head and the Courtyard menu which includes Antipasto platter, a selection of Flatbreads and a Salad at $45.00.   There is an undercover area should the weather be inclement.
 
It is necessary to pre-pay for our food component ($45) by 18th February.  This can be left in an envelope marked U3a Wine Appreciation group and your name please at Read B4 Bookshop next to Hides Bakery.

A 25% discount applies to wine purchases for any guests who are active Summit Club members or anyone wishing to join.

Meet at the tennis court car park in Barkly Street behind Aldi at 10.00 am.  Please contact Nicole by Friday 18th February to let me know if you will be attending.
​
I can be contacted on 0428 696 408 or email nicnakmac90@gmail.com.

​Nicole McFarlane

The Wine appreciation group organises U3A Benalla's Christmas Luncheon each year.  This year 63 members enjoyed a delicious meal and wonderful company at the beautiful Chrismont winery in the King Valley.  Click on the photo to see the slideshow and report!

​What better way to spend a perfect Spring day than to visit Sam Miranda Winery, Oxley.  Our U3A Wine Appreciation group met there for our Wine Tasting and lunch.
 
It was such a busy day for the venue that our habitual informative talk and Wine Tasting was unexpectedly brief.  However, we all enjoyed being out again as a group that we felt compensated.  The delicious Italian food and new Italian wine varietals were much appreciated. 
 
Thanks to Meg Dillon for stepping in for Heather and Keith, who were unable to take charge or to attend, due to ill health.

Bev Thornell

There will be no November U3A Wine Appreciation, as our U3A Christmas breakup lunch will be held next month.  Details and attendance forms are included on the next page.  This year the lunch is being held on a Tuesday not a Wednesday, and the forms are due on Wednesday 10th November, not at Meet and Mingle.  The contact person for bookings for the lunch is Corrie Witlox – phone  5762 8225. ​

​Our trip to Sam Miranda's Winery in Oxley had to be postponed for the third time in late September. Hopefully we will be able to meet there in October, the weather will be kind so that being outside is a possibility, and it will be 'fourth try lucky'!  All being well, we will meet at the usual place, but an hour later, at 10.30 am on Wednesday 27 October.

Chrismont Winery has been booked for the U3A end of year celebration on Tuesday 23 November.  The cost of the 2-course meal will be $50 and the bus fare $10.  The bus will leave the Benalla Bus Lines depot at 11.00am. There will be an application form and more details in the November newsletter. 
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Keith & Heather Rogers   5762 4086

Our trip to Sam Miranda's Winery in Oxley has had to be postponed for the third time.  Hopefully we will be able to meet there in October, the weather will be kind so that being outside is a possibility, and that it will be 'fourth try lucky'!

​Heather 

We are going to Sam Miranda Winery, Oxley, in late September.  This is our third try, so we do hope it goes ahead this time!  We will meet at the usual place, but an hour later, at 10.30 am.

Chrismont Winery has been booked for the U3A end of year celebration on Tuesday 23 November.  The cost of the 2-course meal will be $50 and the bus fare $10.  The bus will leave the Benalla Bus Lines depot at 11.00am.  More details in upcoming newsletters. 

Keith & Heather Rogers   5762 4086

The Wine Appreciation visit to the Sam Miranda Winery in Oxley on Wednesday 28th July has been postponed because of lack of certainty as to lockdown provisions commencing that day.  Even if restrictions  are eased, it is  likely there will be limits on group numbers able to attend  The visit will now be held on Wednesday, 25 August, Covid regulations permitting.   

Heather and Keith Rogers
​5762 4086  0429 876 999

​This Wine Appreciation outing was actually a Research Project! Were those glowing Facebook reviews of Warrabilla Wines really accurate?  Well, our group, armed with clipboards and learned expressions, in the end had to agree; those reviews were indeed well deserved.

Seated at long, beautifully crafted tables made from slices of polished Red Gum, we were welcomed by the friendly, enthusiastic Cellar Door team of Laura and Deb, who shared their extensive knowledge of wines and winemaking with us while we sampled generous samples of each varietal, all meeting with nods of approval.  Even Keith, nurturing a bandaged hand, was still able to raise the odd glass or two. 

Now for the History and Technical Stuff… A family owned and run affair in Rutherglen, Winemaker and owner, Andrew Sutherland Smith and his wife, Carol, started Warrabilla in 1991.  The Cellar Door was opened at its current site west of Rutherglen five years later.  The Winery prides itself on producing robust reds of distinction, particularly its flagship Durif.   With an annual crush of approximately 150 tons of fruit each year, Warrabilla Wines’ low yielding vines (1.5 to 2 tons per acre) ensure maximum ripening and concentration of colour, flavour and tannin.  Whilst the wines are designed for long term cellaring, they are also well balanced and (fortunately) easy to drink at an early age.  Andrew’s skills as a Winemaker have been recognised many times in Wine Shows around Australia, with a string of trophies and medals to his credit.
​
Now for Lunch…The U3A group was now in a mellow mood and ready for lunch.  The Rogers had chosen the Stonegrill Restaurant in Corowa’s Hotel Australia.  Crossing the Border proved hassle-free and the venue in the Main Street easy to locate (unlike the Winery location for one missing carload!)  The Hotel is historic and the main dining room, with its original stained-glass windows, warm and cosy, but due to group numbers, we had to be seated in a side room.  Most of us were happy with our meal choices from the blackboard Seniors Special options.

Thanks to Keith and Heather, our hard-working convenors, U3A members enjoyed yet another Wine Appreciation outing.

Bev Thornell  

Coming up in July – We are going to Sam Miranda Winery at Oxley next month, Wednesday, 28th July for tasting followed by lunch. Because we are only going to Oxley, we will leave a little later at 10.30.

Heather and Keith Rogers 5762 4086

Pfeiffer Wines is a family owned and operated winery, located in the Rutherglen Wine District.  Its historic, century-old cellars are nestled the banks of Sunday Creek.  Pfeiffer Wines strives for success in producing quality wine, offering great customer service and promoting the Rutherglen Region as Australia’s premium and most versatile grape growing area.  Father and daughter winemakers, Chris and Wine Award Winner Jen Pfeiffer produce 28 varieties of premium, handcrafted wines, crisp whites, full-bodied reds and the acclaimed Muscats and Topaques. 

Our large, genteel group of 20 was greeted by Sideen, Cellar Door Manager, and then ushered through the cellar doors into the warm and welcoming tasting room, where we perched on stools set around old wine barrels.  As we were keen to learn about and appreciate the wines grown and produced here, we welcomed tastings of each variety, discovering which were our favourites.  Sue, the Wine Club Manager, was on hand to assist and advise.  Purchases were carried back to the cars, to be consumed at leisure.

Food and Wine are a suitable pairing, so a short drive to the Pickled Sisters restaurant at Cofield Winery was an appropriate follow on.  Two long tables accommodated our group, for a long, relaxing a la carte lunch, accompanied by local wines. 

Thanks to Keith and Heather, our hard-working convenors, U3A members enjoyed yet another Wine Appreciation outing.

* Next month’s visit:  To Be Advised. Hopefully, it will be Longleat Winery at Murchison.  To confirm this and book your place, please contact convenors Keith & Heather Rogers 5762 4086 closer to the date.

 Bev Thornell​

​Our last trip on Wednesday 28 April was to Dal Zotto Winery, with lunch at the popular Whitfield Hotel.  The weather was magnificent all day and the drive to Whitfield revealed vegetation in all its resplendent Autumn glory.  The attention we received from Stephanie at Dal Zottos’ was friendly and informative. We were treated to a large range of white and red wines which appealed to most people's palates.  Our meal at the hotel was served outdoors in the delightful garden.

Next Meeting – On Wednesday May 26 we will visit Pfeiffer Wines, located on the large sweeping bend at 167 Distillery Road, Wahgunyah, Victoria.

There will be a tasting fee at Pfeiffers of $10 per head, refundable on purchase of $80 of wine per couple. Please have money ready at the car park.

Lunch will be at The Pickled Sisters attached to Cofield Winery.
​
Meet at the tennis court car park in Barkly Street behind Aldi at 10 am.  Please contact Heather or Keith by Sunday 23rd May to let us know if you will be attending.
                                                                         
Keith and Heather Rogers
​03 5762 4086 or 0429 876 999

We have booked into Dal Zotto’s Winery, Whitfield for our outing on Wednesday, 28th April.

We will leave the tennis court car park in Barkly Street behind Aldi at 10.00 am.  

Please have $5 per head ready at the car park for the winery visit – this is a discounted rate as it is usually $10. 

​Please let us know by Sunday 25th April if you will be attending.  SMS (preferred) or call 0429 876 999.

We will be dining at the Whitfield Hotel.

 Keith & Heather 0429 876 999 or 5762 4086   

​The second Wine Appreciation Day for 2021 took a group of connoisseurs to the Milawa Wine Region. The visit to the picturesque John Gehrig Winery at Oxley allowed everyone to hear about the history of wine making and development of the Gehrig Wineries. The range of white and red wines made at the winery were tasted and their qualities discussed. Wine was purchased for later enjoyment with family and friends. A delicious lunch followed at the Milawa Hotel. Another successful day was enjoyed by all.

​Wendy Sturgess

Late news!  Tomorrow's Wine Appreciation visit will be to Gehrig's Winery, Oxley, followed by lunch at the Milawa Hotel.  Meet at 10 am at the tennis court car park in Barkly Street behind Aldi.

​Heather and Keith

Good news!  Last Wednesday, the U3A Wine Appreciation group met for the first time for 2021. Lake Moodemere Estate in Rutherglen was our destination.  Set in historic gardens overlooking the Billabong and Lake Moodemere, the Winery, planted in 1886, is now home to the sixth generation of the Chambers family.  

Belinda Chambers was our host and her fascinating account of the family history, the importance of the Vineyard's unique terroir and the area's close indigenous links kept us intrigued.  Heritage Homestead itself is full of interesting family photographs and the surrounding gardens have developed over 150 years. Inside the Homestead’s Cellar Door, our group tasted a variety of the Estate Grown white, sparkling and red wines, as Belinda explained the characteristics of each sample.   Obviously quite a few tastings met with the group's approval and so credit cards were given a workout.   

​Keith and Heather had arranged for the group to lunch at Rutherglen's Poachers Paradise Hotel. It is safe to say we all appreciated the day's outing, thanks to the Rogers' organization.

U3A Wine Appreciation will be resuming on Wednesday 24th February.

Our first winery will be Lake Moodamere Winery in Rutherglen.  We will be dining at Tuilleries, also in Rutherglen, hopefully in the courtyard.

The winery will charge everyone who is tasting a $5 fee but if you buy multiple bottles of wine it will be refunded.  Seems to be the way most wineries are going these days.

The meeting place is still at the old High School tennis courts behind Aldi at 10.00am.

We ask that anyone wishing to come has their name in to us by Sun 21st February.

Our phone no is 5762 4086  and email address is scottishflower43@hotmail.com.
​
Keith & Heather Rogers  5762 4086 

We’ve heard ‘around the traps’ that members have resumed happily supporting the local wine industry, with enjoyable visits for long lunches over the Cup Day long weekend to Sam Miranda and Tallis Wines reported on.  If the numbers in groups allowed to gather continue to be increased, it may not be too long before the Wine Appreciation group will be able meet again. 

The criteria explained by Heather and Keith in our June Newsletter for the resumption of group visits to wineries –“when members can enjoy sitting at a restaurant together.  We’re not interested until the situation is back closer to normal.  It might be a couple of months.  We’re not interested in social distancing when we are meeting to have a social occasion.”  
​
The situation is gradually moving ‘back closer to normal’.   Fingers crossed.  

​Media Team

Reading through the newsletter while adding reports to the website, I noticed Film as Literature and Let’s Talk Books class members have shared news of films they have been viewing and books they have been reading while in social isolation.  With no report of planned visits in the newsletter for Wine Appreciation, a somewhat quirky question sprang to mind… “I wonder what Wine Appreciation members have been drinking while in isolation?”!  I decided to make a few calls…

My first call was to Margaret Jenkins… “What do I have in the fridge?   Tarzali Reisling 2019… because I like it!   It’s good to have a bottle in the fridge in case friends call in.  Also, Tarzali is the first winery I visited when I joined Wine Appreciation”. 
 
My next call was to Wendy Sturgess, “What do I have in fridge?  Point Leo Estate Pinot Grigio.  I tasted, enjoyed and bought some when I took my sister there just before the lock up.  It’s a beautiful drop.  Hopefully, I can find someone to enjoy it with me”. 

Next, Marg Walshe… “What wine am I currently drinking…?” (…sounds of Margaret going to the fridge)… “Cofield Provincial Parcel, Beechworth Chardonnay, 2015. I was given it by lovely neighbours recently.  It’s rather a nice wine, very smooth, with ‘rich flavours of citrus and apple, a complex texture and a crisp palate’.”
 
Ray O’Shannessy responded, “I’ve been drinking Gapsted Pinot Grigio which I bought at a recent Wine Appreciation visit.  It’s very nice, I’m enjoying it very much.”  

My final call was to Keith and Heather Rodgers, convenors of the Wine Appreciation group.  “What are we drinking with our meal tonight?  Mudgee Creek 2018 Shiraz.  It’s a lovely red, we only drink nice red!  Life’s too short to drink cheap wine (Keith adds in the background ‘and white wine’).  The alcohol content is 14% which is good…that’s 8 standard drinks in bottle.  It’s fairly powerful.” 

I asked Heather about any plans for future group visits to wineries … “We don’t think it’s worth arranging visits until we can enjoy sitting at a restaurant together.  We’re not interested until the situation is back closer to normal.  It might be a couple of months.  We’re not interested in social distancing when we are meeting to have a social occasion.” 

In the meantime, other Wine Appreciation group members are, like Margaret, Wendy, Marg, Ray, Keith and Heather, highly likely to continue appreciating wine while ‘in isolation’.
​
Beverley Lee - with thanks to Margaret, Wendy, Marg, Ray, Keith and Heather for having a chuckle when asked the question!

Editors note - the planned visit to Lake Moodemere Estate fell after corona virus regulations concerning restaurants and non essential businesses were introduced on 23 March.  The trip was therefore cancelled.

"4/3/2020 On Wednesday 25 March we are going to Lake Moodamere Estate in Rutherglen and dining at the Pickled Sisters.  We will leave the tennis court car park behind Aldi as usual at 10.00 am.

Keith and Heather Rogers 5762 4086 " 

​On Wednesday 25th February the U3A Wine Appreciation group revisited the King Valley, this time visiting the Sam Miranda Winery at Oxley. Sam, grandson of Francesco Miranda, purchased the family business in 2004. He expanded the the property by purchasing two local vineyards, and built the modern, underground Cellar Door, with its striking tall, square light tower. We were welcomed into this spacious, light-filled room, by Jan and staff, who were kept busy pouring us samples of a wide variety of excellent white, red and sparkling wines. As the shaded outdoor terrace proved too windy, we dined inside. The menu was extensive, and servings very generous! Keith thanked Sam Miranda and his obliging staff, who contributed to our relaxing experience. Thank you also Keith and Heather Rogers, our convenors. Welcome to Wine Appreciation's four new members: Anne & John and Colin & Yvonne! I'm sure many of us will be making return visits to this Winery.

Bev Thornell