Victoria - New life in the Yarra Valley
Sara Schwarz
Spend a night in luxury at Immerse in the Yarra Valley [©copyright free]
Eight months after Black Saturday, signs of blackened bushland are still apparent as you look out over the Yarra Valley. Everywhere you turn however, the burnt and black is interspersed with verdant new growth, patchworks of daffodils and bountiful spring blooms – a welcome sight for locals and tourists alike.
The people of the Yarra Valley suffered greatly from the bushfires and also from the fall in tourism that followed. The Yarra Valley is very much open for business and we know you will receive a warm welcome wherever you may go.
Stop 1 - an icon with an iconic view
Family owned De Bortoli Wines is one of Australia's largest private companies. From its vineyards in premium wine growing regions a wide selection of wines is produced, from table wines to sparkling wines, fortified wines and the internationally acclaimed Noble One.
The cheese room alone makes De Bortoli well worth the visit. Combine this with fine wines, an iconic restaurant and wide ranging views across the valley and it’s one stop you won’t want to miss making. Open from 10am, De Bortoli is excellent place to start the day with a coffee.
Cellar Door and Cheese Room open seven days; Locale Restaurant open Thur to Mon for lunch and for dinner Saturday evenings.
58 Pinnacle Lane, Dixons Creek VIC 3775
Tel (03) 5965 2271
FOR MEMBERS: An exclusive price on De Bortoli's and Healesville Sanctuary's unique Wine and Wildlife package »
Stop 2 - circle of life
Just down the road, the mandala symbol of Mandala Wines represents the Smedley family's circle of life, the sharing of experiences, and the quest to achieve balance. These wines also bring to fruition the joy of simple pleasures; great food and wine and the love of family...embracing and savouring life.
With established twenty-year old vines, the family-owned and run Yarra Valley vineyards produce varietals that excel in this region. These are wines of character and finesse, fruit driven, contemporary and made to be enjoyed with good food and friends.
Cellar Door open daily 10am-5pm. Restaurant open Thur to Mon for lunch and for dinner Saturday evenings.
1568 Melba Hwy, Dixons Creek VIC 3775
Tel (03) 5965 2016
FOR MEMBERS: Charles Smedly offers Members the opportunity to join him for a tutoured tasting with lunch or a private barrel tasting. Book well in advance »
Stop 3 - a touch of class
Iconic TarraWarra is as famous for their chardonnay and pinot noir as for their intriguing mud-brick cellar door, which also houses the WineBar Cafe/Restaurant and the intriguing TarraWarra Museum of Art.
Allow plenty of time to explore the wines and also the astounding Museum of Art. read more.
Cellar Door open daily from 11am – 5 pm. The WineBar Café open Tues - Sun 12-3pm (lunch only). TMA open Tue - Sun.
311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Yarra Glen VIC 3775
Tel (03) 5957 3510
Stop 4 - ale o'clock
Established in 2003, Hargreaves Hill Brewing Co. has grown a reputation for excellent hand crafted ales. The original brewery, then located in Steels Creek, burnt down in the bushfires, however through the generous assistance of other breweries, brewing was able to continued.
Recently Hargreaves Hill have completed their new brewery in Lilydale – with an even greater capacity. Keep an eye out for Hargreaves Hill beers and support this fire affected business - and the beers are wonderful too!
Open for tastings, lunch and dinner Thursday to Sunday
FOR MEMBERS: Enjoy a complimentary tasting paddle of seven carefully crafted Hargreaves Hill beer and ales - one Offer not to be missed »
25 Bell St, Yarra Glen VIC 3775
Tel (03) 5964 6224
Stop 5 - a touch of spice
End the day just up the hill in Eltham with an eat in or take away meal from the wonderful local Indian restaurant Ginger Garlic. This restaurant blends traditional Indian cooking with some interesting twists and offers consistently good food. This is no ordinary Indian restaurant although you will wonder if you are in the right place when you see the low key 1970s interior with its pine furniture but the food speaks for itself. You will be greeted by friendly staff and cheery regulars - if you can get a table that is! If you can't decide what to have, then no problem. Just ask them to recommend something. You won't be disappointed ... read more.
FOR MEMBERS: Your hosts, Ashok and Ritu Sikand invite you to join them on an exclusive and truly unforgettable Ginger Garlic tour of either northern or southern India . . . with special bonuses for Members »
Open: Thurs 12-2pm, Tues to Sun 5pm-11pm
Shop 9, 9 Dudley Street, Eltham VIC 3095
Tel (03) 9439 4423
Stop 6 - Dreamland
Immerse in the Yarra Valley lost both buildings and vineyards in the 2009 fires, however the main complex (along with their 2000L gas tank) miraculously survived. Immerse have done a wonderful job of rebuilding and like many visitors, you may actually refuse to believe the property was in the direct line of the fire’s destructive path.
Picturesque Immerse, set on 48 acres of gently undulating land comprises a 21 acre vineyard, day spa, restaurant and other facilities in combination with their fine accommodation. Views from atop the vineyard hill reveal a 360-degree vista of Yarra Valley landscape.
1548 Melba Hwy, Dixons Creek VIC 3775
Tel (03) 5965 2444
Regions
- Melbourne Surrounds (VIC)
- Yarra Valley (Wine) (VIC)
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MEMBER BENEFIT: A personal tour of Healesville sanctuary in the morning followed by a delicious two course meal at De Bortoli in the afternoon - all at a special price for Members »
MEMBER BENEFIT: The Smedley family of Mandala Wines invite VisitVineyards.com Members to book a private barrel tasting of their yet to be released wines »
MEMBER BENEFIT: Enjoy a complimentary tasting paddle of boutique Hargreaves Hill beers to refresh your palate while wine tasting in the Yarra Valley »
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TarraWarra Estate (wine)
TarraWarra Estate is located in the renowned Yarra Valley region of Victoria. "From the outset our vision has been to produce wines of great quality and integrity ... read more
Family owned De Bortoli Wines is one of Australia's largest private companies. De Bortoli Wines is located in Dixons Creek in the Yarra Valley wine region of Melbourne ... read more
Immerse in the Yarra Valley is set on 48 acres of gently undulating land and comprises a 21 acre producing vineyard. Whilst guests may choose to simply relax and ... read more
The TarraWarra Museum of Art is the first privately funded, significant public visual arts museum to be set up under the Australian Government's philanthropic measures ... read more
Immerse Accomodation is a set of cottages located at Immerse winery in Dixons Creek in the Yarra Valley wine region of Victoria's Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Hargreaves Hill Brewing CompanyEstablished in 2003, Hargreaves Hill Brewing Co. has grown a reputation for excellent hand crafted ales. In late 2007, Hargreaves Hill opened a bar and restaurant ... read more
Mandala Fine Wines of Australia
Mandala Wines represents the Smedley family's circle of life, the sharing of experiences, and the quest to achieve balance. These wines also bring to fruition the ... read more
Ginger Garlic is a wonderful Indian restaurant located in Eltham on the outskirts of Melbourne, on the way to the Yarra Valley. This restaurant blends traditional ... read more
Ashok and Ritu Sikand from Eltham's Ginger Garlic restaurant - a haven for foodies in Melbourne - invite you join them on an experience of a lifetime in India. read more
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