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October - Andrew Buller Wines, Rutherglen

29/10/2022

 
Our last group outing for the year and we were off to Rutherglen, Andrew Buller Wines to be exact.   Andrew and his wife, Wendy, were very gracious hosts and their wines extremely enjoyable.   Andrew is from the Buller family of winemakers and he and Wendy bought their winery in 2015.  In their lovely old home they have converted the front rooms into a cellar door.  Had the weather been co-operative we would have been sitting out under the rather grand old trees.

We started off with a traditionally made champagne, followed by a chardonnay, pinot grigio, a delicious sparkling shiraz liquored with rare Muscat – definitely a purchase - two reds and finished off with a Tawny, Tokay and a Muscat.   Most of us clinked back to our cars for lunch at Footsteps Cafe (previously The Pickled Sisters) at Cofields winery.

The cafe has a very interesting menu, beautifully presented dishes and wonderful service.   A great way to end our year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bev for all her wonderful photographs and to the entire group for making each month a very happy day out.
Photographs:  Bev Thornell
I look forward to meeting up with you again next year.

Nicole McFarlane

May - Campbell's Winery, Rutherglen and 'The Other Place' cafe

30/5/2022

 
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.
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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 nicnakmac90@gmail.com.
​
Nicole McFarlane  ​

May Photos--Campbells of Rutherglen/The Other Place Cafe

28/5/2022

 
"Our convenor, Nicole, had cleverly timed this month’s outing in the Rutherglen Region on the cusp of Winter, an opportunity to stock up on those luscious Reds and fortifieds to combat the cold months ahead. Campbells of Rutherglen is a fifth generation family owned winery, established in 1870. The region continues to receive international acclaim for the ‘world’s richest wines’ from wine writers, merchants and consumers alike. Campbells is one of Rutherglen’s original muscat and topaque producers. Its large, Commercial Winery is very popular with visiting groups. We were only one of three groups there. Most of our group paid for a tasting; the others took advantage of the warm fire to chat.   After purchases had been made, we drove on to Rutherglen Main Street for an al fresco lunch on the patio of The Other Place Café. We were a larger group than average, so we kept the staff busy, but we all had time to socialize over lunch, before checking out the local shops. Thanks Nicole, for arranging this month’s outing."  Bev Thornell, FB post, 25 May 2022

May - Pfeiffer Wines, with lunch at the Pickled Sisters restaurant

31/5/2021

 
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​

February - Lake Moodemere Estate, where tastings met with much approval and "credit cards were given a workout"

4/3/2021

 
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.

Bev Thornell
 
Next month's Wine Appreciation venue is yet to be announced.  Contact Keith & Heather on 5762 4086  for further details.

September - Anderson Winery, Rutherglen

30/9/2019

 
This month's U3A Wine Appreciation group met at Anderson Winery in Rutherglen. Opening in 1993, experienced Winemaker Howard Anderson and his daughter Christobelle make a wide range of small batch hand-crafted premium wines. With only 8 high yielding hectares of vines, using no imported grapes, and more importantly, minimal irrigation, Anderson creates superbly refined red wines, plus some whites...and a rather smooth Muscat!

We enjoyed socialising in the wine cellar, tasting and buying.

Then our hungry group drove to the nearby historic town of Chiltern. Lunch was served in the small dining room of the partly renovated Telegraph Hotel.
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​Thanks to duo Heather and Keith Rogers, we enjoyed another day out.

​Bev Thornell

Coming up on Wednesday 23rd October - Gapsted Winery, near Myrtleford; lunch at a local hotel.    Meet at the carpark behind Aldi at 10.00am as usual. Please contact either Heather or Keith Rogers on 7562 4806 no later than Sunday prior to the activity for catering numbers to be finalised

July - Jones Winery and Vineyard in Rutherglen

31/7/2019

 
In late July the U3A Wine Appreciation Group visited Jones Winery & Vineyard in Rutherglen. Whilst perhaps not as well-known as other local Wineries, nevertheless this Winery was first acquired in 1927, and subsequently managed by six generations of the Jones family. Now, manager Arthur and his winemaker sister, Mandy, create superb French style wines, red and white, and several fortified, all made from their vines planted more than 112 years ago.

Our group was welcomed into the charming, heritage listed Wine Cellar Door by our host Laura, who was kept on her toes offering wine tastings, whilst sharing information on the winery. We were charmed by the rustic Cellar Door and its Dining Area. Equally charming was the whimsical and imaginative Garden Art on display outside. The adjacent Gallery housed more of local Helen Hay's work.

Our group was treated to another example of local historic buildings, as we lunched at the iconic Poachers Paradise Hotel. Enjoying the ambience, great food, charming and efficient service in this historic Hotel, topped off an enjoyable day out. 

​Heather and Keith - you had researched and planned this day for us to enjoy. Thank you so much!

Bev Thornell
​Coming up on August 28 – Myrtleford’s  Michelini Winery and Café Fez 

The Wine Appreciation group is going to Michelini Winery in Myrtleford in August.   Please note that that Michelini 
may charge a tasting fee of $2.50.

For lunch…“We hope to dine at Café Fez,  which is part of the Red Ramia establishment.  It gets good reviews.”  

Meet at the tennis court car park (behind Aldi) in Barkly Street at the usual meeting time of 10 am. Please ring Heather and Keith on 5762 4086 by Sunday 25 August to enable catering numbers to be finalised.  
​

Heather and Keith Rogers

March visit to Warrabilla Winery

30/3/2019

 
The Wine Appreciation group visited Warrabilla Wines in Rutherglen on 27th March. Owned and run by Andrew Sutherland and his wife Carol (with occasional assistance from Bear the grape-eating dog) the winery has been running for 23 years. Its main flagship are the award winning Durif, Cavernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, but we found that the Riesling and Muscats are pretty good too! Deb and Carol poured us samples of their wines and many bottles of these samples headed home with our group.

Lunch was held at the iconic Pickled Sisters Restaurant at Cofield Winery, where we appreciated the excellent food and coffee.

​Thanks Keith for organising this enjoyable day out in a popular tourist area...Rutherglen.

Bev Thornell
Photographs:  Wendy Sturgess and Terry Dillon

    About the Wine Appreciation Group
    This group meets monthly for a trip to explore the wineries of the North East and learn more about the varieties of wines and the people who make them.  
    We meet on the third Friday  of the month, gathering at Benalla College's Barkly St. car park on the tennis court behind Aldi for car-pooling.  Lunch is part of the excursion at a suitable venue.  

    Convenor and Contact Details

    Picture
    Nicole McFarlane 
    ​0428 696 408

    Meeting Times

    3rd Friday
    10 am to 4 pm.

    Various venues.

    ​We meet
     at the Benalla College Barkly Street Campus tennis court car park behind Aldi for car -pooling. 

    ​See Newsletter and website calendar for monthly starting times. 

    Wineries visited
    (being updated)

    All
    2017
    Alpine Valley
    Amulet Winery
    Anderson Winery
    Andrew Buller Wines
    Avenel
    Baileys
    Beechworth
    Campbells
    Chateau Tahbilk Photos
    Chrismont
    Corowa
    Dal Zotto
    Ferraro Wines
    Fowles Winery
    Gapsted Winery
    Indigo Winery
    John Gehrig
    Jones Winery
    King River Cafe
    King Valley
    La Cantina Winery
    Lake Moodemere Estate
    Longleat Winery
    March 22
    Michelini Wines
    Milawa
    Murchison
    Myrtleford
    Oxley
    Pennyweight Winery
    Pfeiffer Wines
    Pizzini
    Pizzzini Winery
    Politini
    Red Feet Wines
    Rutherglen
    Sam Miranda Winery
    Taminick
    The Other Place Cafe
    Warrabilla Winery
    Whitfield Hotel

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We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay our respects to their elders - past, present and emerging.
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​Photographs - U3A members; Benalla Art Gallery website; ​Weebly 'Free' images;Travel Victoria and State Library of Victoria