OVERLOOKING the breathtaking hills of the Yarra Valley, the Cellar Door and Cafe at Henkell Vineyards offers beautiful music, fine wine and outstanding dining in a relaxed atmosphere.
The menu, now under the guidance of new host and head chef Barbara DeSilva, boasts a blend of international cuisine – from warm and cold entree platters to delicious main courses, light snacks and mouth watering homemade desserts.
Master of Wine Andreas Lehmann will greet visitors at the wine tasting counter.
A wide range of exclusive entertainment is also on offer from live jazz to open air opera. It can also be used as a venue for weddings, birthdays or other special events.
Tokar Estate
THE Aria is the latest wine release from Tokar Estate. It is a unique blend of Reserve Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, and, although it has been in bottle for a short time, it has already won international acclaim with a Silver Medal at the New Zealand Wine Show.
Tokar Estate is proud to be the first in the Yarra Valley to grow Tempranillo, Spain’s most popular grape. Tokar Estate Cellar door is open daily for tasting and the restaurant featuring Mediterranean cuisine is open for lunch Monday to Sunday. Phone 5964 9585.
Bianchet Winery
BIANCHET Winery, one of the oldest vineyard/wineries in the Yarra Valley, is under new management.
The popular Bianchet cafe remains under the helm of Robert Leybourne with new exciting dishes and a revamped wine list featuring wines from small producers of the Yarra Valley and some interesting labels from beyond.
The cafe will open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and Friday and Saturday nights for dinner. The cellar door will also open Wednesday to Sunday. For bookings phone 9739 1779.
Wild Cattle Creek
WILD Cattle Creek Wines recently won a gold medal at the 2005 Yarra Valley Wine Show for its 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, and a bronze medal for its 2005 Sauvignon Blanc.
The winery grows Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris on 65 acres near Yarra Junction and at a smaller vineyard at Wandin.
Adjoining its Wandin vineyard is the Wild Cattle Creek Cellar Door which is open for sales and tasting from 11am to 5pm seven days a week. The cellar door is run in conjunction with Rustic Charm, one of the Yarra Valley’s most popular and highly acclaimed restaurants.
Warramate Wines
WARRAMATE Wines, planted on the slopes of the Warramate Ranges at Gruyere, is one of the Yarra Valley’s oldest and most respected wineries.
Founded by Jack and June Church in the late 1960s, it is one of a handful of wineries responsible for the renaissance of the Yarra Valley as a wine growing region in the 1970s.
Over the past 35 years the Church family have become renowned as producers of small quantities of elegant and refined Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling from dry grown, hand-pruned and hand-harvested vines. Warramate Wines cellar door is open from 10am to 6pm seven days a week.
Riverstone Estate
RIVERSTONE Estate is a 75-acre property with frontage to the Yarra River.
The estate combines stud Limousin cattle from Limoge, France and produces premium wines from the 25 acre vineyard.
The homestead and cellar door/restaurant is built of bluestone and 100 year old Oregon timber from the historic Newmarket sale yards. One of the original cattle sheds has been re-erected for use as barrel and wine storage.
The estate has just released five new wines and has some special offers for Christmas.
Tasting and special offers are available from the cellar door and newly opened Riverstone Wine Shop at 65 Main Street, Warburton.
