On a rather cold wintry day our small group of intrepid wine tasters (someone has to do it) set off for Indigo Winery at Upper Everton.    Rob, the owner was very welcoming and outlined the start of the vineyard and that they now have 46 Hectares planted to grapes and also grow their own pork and lamb.   The wines are true to high altitude type and we tasted 5 different varieties.   The staff was very knowledgeable and keen to enlighten us of the awards some of the wines have won.   ​

We then motored further up the road to Beechworth and had a very enjoyable lunch at the Beechworth Pantry.  Always lots of laughter and interesting discussions.

​Next month we are off to Myrtleford to Ferraro Wines, 16 Clancy Lane, Myrtleford.  Ferraro Wines is a boutique winery and produces Merlot, Barbera, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Rose, Vermentino and Sauvignon Blanc.  Lunch will be at either Milawa Pub or King River Cafe at Oxley.   Meeting behind Aldi at 1000 and RSVP to me at [email protected] or phone/text 0428 696 408 by Sunday 25th September please.

​Nicole McFarlane

On a rather foggy morning, 19 of us travelled south on the freeway to Fowles Winery at Avenel.   The cellar door and restaurant have undergone a massive renovation/new build with windows looking out to the Strathbogie Ranges. 

Having perched ourselves at the bar, we proceeded to taste up to 10 different varieties of red, whites and rose wines, all grapes grown on their 350-acre vineyard and made by Matt Fowles.

​Katey, our host, was very knowledgeable about the wines and happy to discuss them with us.

​June's visit was to Baileys Winery, which is now owned by Australian family company, Casella Wines. Seated at a long table inside the historic Cellar Door, beside the welcome open fire, we were treated to a long, leisurely Wine Tasting, under the tutelage of young Dylan. From the long list of excellent Baileys Reds and Fortifieds, some of which have won prestigious awards, the tastings offered were much appreciated by the group. The two Baileys Muscats were utterly luscious, especially the Rare Old Muscat! After this relaxing event, we drove into Glenrowan to lunch at the cosy Vintage Cafe, where we chose from the menu, waited on by friendly staff.   

 Nicole McFarlane ​

This month our journey was slightly further afield to Campbell’s Winery at Rutherglen.

There were many wines available for tasting, but sadly for some of our members the Robbie Burns Shiraz 2018 was off the list.   The staff described it as the best in 20 years, so they are withholding many bottles for a special release down the track. 

Five minutes down the road we came to our lunch venue, The Other Place cafe.  We enjoyed our meals in their lovely courtyard and many stayed on to chatter and window shop.

Next month we are off to Baileys@Glenrowan, 779 Taminick Gap Rd, Glenrowan followed by lunch at the Vintage Hall Café, 54 Gladstone St, Glenrowan.

Meeting behind Aldi’s at 10.00 a.m.

RSVP’s by Sunday 19th June to phone/text 0428 696 408 or email [email protected].
​
Nicole McFarlane  ​

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.
​
RSVPs by Sunday 22 May--phone/text 0428 696 408 or email [email protected].  

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 [email protected].  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 [email protected].

​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. 
​
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