U3A Wine Appreciation group met in late April at Pizzini’s Cellar Door in the King Valley, a very picturesque and productive area. Pizzini has an attractive new cellar door and landscaped gardens, ideal for hosting their regular special events. Our group lined up at the counter for Caroline to pour tastings of Pizzini's extensive range of white and red wines. Selections of these accompanied us home. Nearby Mountainview Hotel was the venue for an al fresco lunch in ideal weather. We all agreed the food was delicious and service friendly and efficient. Keith asked our group to pause for a toast to our late co-organiser, Noel, who will be missed. Thanks Keith and Heather...you've done it again!

Wednesday 22 May
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We will visit Morrison’s Winery at Glenrowan, followed by lunch at the Glenrowan Pub.  Meet at 10 am in the car park behind Aldi.  
 
Heather and Keith Rogers 5762 4086

April 24 –Pizzini Wines at King Valley.  Lunch at the Mountain View Hotel. Departing 10am Barkly St Car Park behind Aldi.

May 22 -- Ciavarella Oxley Estate Winery, Oxley.  Lunch at King River Cafe.   Meet at 10am for 10.15 start at the Barkly St car park behind Aldi.   
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Keith & Heather Rogers 5762 4086

Photographs:  Wendy Sturgess and Terry Dillon

​Welome to another year of interest with our Wine Appreciation group.   It is good to see several new enrolments.
 
Wednesday  27 February 2019
Meet at 10.00 am for travel to Tallis Winery at Dookie.  Lunch  will be a selection of shared platters.
 
Wednesday 27 March
Meet at 10.00 am  to travel to Warrabilla Winery, Rutherglen, previously visited in 2011 and home to some powerful reds.
Lunch at Pickled Sisters.
 
We will continue to meet at the tennis court car-park site behind Aldi’s.
 
Phone Noel 5762 3149 or  Keith &  Heather 5762 4086.  In most instances we confirm  meal bookings  the  previous Sunday night.

La Cantina Winery, visited in late October, has an interesting family history; Gino Corsini,  father of Peter & grandfather of Reuben, migrated from Bagni Di Luca, Tuscany to Australia in 1952, aged 19 years.  The wine making techniques follow the traditional Corsini Family traditions, with no preservatives added and no filtration, retaining the full characteristics of each wine.  The interesting Cellar Door building was built by Gino & Carmel Corsini in 1997 from Glenrowan granite rocks in traditional Tuscan style.

Marg Walshe

Meet at 10.00 am on Wednesday 24 October for a leisurely drive to La Cantina Winery in the King Valley.  

​Lunch at the Moyhu Hotel. 

This  group  outing completes our 21st year  of activities.
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Noel Meagher

​Wednesday 26 September

Meet at 10.00 am and travel to Murchison for a visit to Longleat Wines.
Lunch on site
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Noel Meagher, Keith and Heather Rodgers

Thanks to Bev Thornell for this Facebook entry and the wonderful photos.  

Wednesday August 22nd

Meet at 10.30 am to go to Baddaginnie Run.  Lunch will be available on the property – places are restricted to 25.  Book in early with Keith and Heather if you wish to have lunch. 
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Keith & Heather  5762 4086

Wednesday 25 July 2018

Meet before 10.00 am for travel to Rutherglen and cellar door of Rutherglen Estates.
Lunch is at Hub Sixty Two in Chiltern.
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Keith/Heather 57624086
Noel 57623149

Wednesday 27th June
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Meet at 10.00am in the carpark for travel to Mansfield and Delatite Wines.   Lunch in town to be confirmed.

Wednesday 25 July

10.00 am meeting for travel to Rutherglen and visit Rutherglen Estates, the largest wine producer in the area. Lunch at Tuileries café.

Noel 5762 3149 Keith & Heather 5762 4086 ​

Photograph of our April trip to Pfeiffers Winery, Rutherglen by Terry Dillon.

Wednesday 23 May

Meet at 10.30 am in the carpark for visit to Browns Milawa  winery.

​Lunch will be a 2-course at King River café. 

Wednesday 27 June

Meet at 10.00 am in the carpark for travel to Mansfield and Delatite Wines.

Lunch in town to be confirmed

​Keith & Heather 5762 4086 

A very surprised Louise Doddrell received a life membership presented by Noel at our 21st anniversary celebrations at Gracebook winery in late March!  Louise was the inauguaral convenor of Wine Appreciation in 1997 and continued in this role until 2013.  

Wednesday 25 April   Anzac Day.
Meet at the tennis court car park behind Aldi in Barkly Street at 10.00 am to travel to  Pfeiffers winery at Rutherglen where our last visit was eight years ago.    Lunch is at the Pickled Sisters café.

Keith & Heather 5762 4086   

26 members took advantage of our February outing when we visited the Amulet winery at Tarrawingee.

There had been a significant refurbishment  of the facilities since our last visit some years ago.
The winery is situate on a 650 acre  bush holding where 22 acres are devoted to vines.

The tastings were of a number of top quality  red and white wine varieties and I’m sure that the  sales which eventuated were satisfactory to the proprietors.
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Lunch was enjoyed at the Plough Inn at the Tarrawingee township and a good day was had by all.

Ray O'Shannessy

​Click this link if you would like to view the slide show for the Christmas Luncheon organised by the Wine Appreciation convenors, Noel, Keith and Heather - christmas-luncheon-at-remel-185-whorouly-a-happy-event.html.  It was a very happy event!

Wednesday 28 February 2018   

Assemble at Barkly St car park at 10.30 am for a visit to Virago vineyard at Everton, one of the smaller Beechworth vignerons. Speciality is Nebbiolo variety. Lunch at the Plough Restaurant Tarrawingee.  (Please note - these destinations have Since changed - please see more recent post above).

Wednesday 28 March 2018

​Our Wine group’s 21st anniversary celebration! Wine tasting and lunch at Gracebrook vineyard. Details in new year newsletter.


Keith & Heather 5762 4086 

The next occasion will be Wednesday 21 February—Details later. We will continue to assemble at the original carpark in Barkly Street.

Early in 2018 we will celebrate a special anniversary for 21 years of the U3a wine appreciation group. Founding convener was Louise Dodderell who led the way during most of these long years.

Seasons greetings to all who participated and contributed to the outings.
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Keith & Heather 5762 4086

​A lovely Spring day saw the wine appreciation group arrive at Stanton and Killeen and enjoy the informative talk from their winemaker, Paul. This winery is noted for its family tradition of making rich syrupy muscats and tokays and plenty were available to sample.

The winery has also recently started making reds and whites to complement the tasting experience at the cellar door. Some new varieties are being cellared and its worth trying these as many are great for summer BBQs and quaffing. Some new sparkling wines are about to be released, the first of these was a pleasant sparking rose with a rather savory balance.

After the tastings the group travelled to Rutherglen to the Tuileries restaurant and enjoyed shared entrée plates and a choice of mains. A very pleasant day and recommended for members to try.

Keith has been in hospital last week so this report has been written by Meg. Keith is now recovering at home. Best wishes from everybody Keith.

On a final note - a reminder of upcoming dates

Wednesday October 25 - Meet Meet at 10.30 am to visit Baileys' Taminick.  Lunch is at Thoona Hotel.    Noel  5762 3149 Keith & Heather 5762 4086.

Wednesday November 22 - Christmas Lunch at Remel 189 Whoroughly!

On Wednesday 27 September the Wine Appreciation group visited the Stanton and Killeen Winery at Rutherglen, with lunch at the Tuileries Cafe.   Thank you Margaret Walshe for these photographs!