Winemakers of Rutherglen

By now you will have worked out where we have been.
First frost in the mornings but still very warm days here in the wine region of Rutherglen.
Known for Very Good Red's and outstanding Fortified wines.
Are you ready?
Are your taste Buds ready?
For Beer Drinkers sorry wine only!!!!!!!!!!


First  to titivate your taste buds, make sure you haven't eaten mints, orange or lemons, garlic, or blue cheese, salt or chilli's.
Why you say? Try it out you'l find out...................

Armed with the Tiny Wineries Discovery Map, Winemakers of Rutherglen Winery Guide and the Rutherglen Heritage Walk Guide.
20 wineries and 3 days, we checked out 7, Note, more than 3 wineries a day is to many.
Please note, from our mistake, read about the Winery you are going to visit first, we had to phone the Watch box Winery to get directions, we were within 8k to get a answer phone message saying "they are closed only open Wed to Sunday."lol

A day planned walking, cold wind blowing, 2k walk from Kay's house is Jones Winery & Vineyard.









The building we entered, is built from hand made bricks, with it's oriiginal bark lined roof if you look closely at the right hand side picture at the ceiling you will see the bark hairs hanging down.
Run by Mandy Jones and her Bother Arther.
We warmed up with a coffee by the log fire, within this room is the Cellar Door / bar to the left is the cafe' outside to the right is a small gallery which included garden art, sculptures and furniture made from native timber.
To be greeted by the bar man saying your not from here and a long way from home, he to is from the UK, came to Australia because his wife a Doctor came home one day and said, "how about Australia," "Holiday?" "No to live!" he was a nice guy made us coffee and talked us through the history of the vineyard.
We relaxed and warmed up by the fire, The Winery was established in 1860 and are producing wines from vines planted 100 years ago.

Wines for tasting are laid out on the Bar:

•  Reds to the left, 2008 dry red, 2008 Shiraz, 2008 LJ, 2009 Durif.
• Fortified to the right, Apero, Ruby, 2006 Vintage, Muscat, Old Tawny, Olorosso.
• Whites in the chiller, 2009 Roussanne/Marsanne, 2008 Marsanne. 

Armed with large wine classes we started with the Fortified wines, class filled to a 1/3rd we tasted the Apero first and worked towards the Olorsso, given the history and how each was made, they all tasted great.
Its choice, you can taste how you want, spit it out in a barrel size spittoon, that has a stainless steel cone, or drink it, rinse out with water, start again.
The Highlight for me was the Old Tawny, Port Style, Jeannette's is the white Port Style Fortified served very cold, let it warm up and the flavour bursts out, Ideal for soaking soft fruits it ie strawberries.
I tasted the red's Jeannette abstained, the highlights for me and the only rule of thumb I was using, If I felt I could drink the whole bottle then it was good!
Jones 2008 L.J. Rich, fill bodied from the old vines, An outstanding red wine which I liked.
Jones 2009 Durif this grape variety is unique to this region and a vine the French  didn't want, I have never herd of this grape type before, the wine is outstanding, notes given, Rich Berry fruit with soft tannin finish.


The grape is named after François Durif, a botanist at the University of Montpellier, primarily grown in California, Australia, France, and Israel. 
I ordered another coffee warmed up by the fire, purchased a bottle of 2008 LJ for Kay, and then walked back to Rutherglen.


Overview of the other Wineries we visited:


Very Impressive Drive, All Saints Estate, a long drive to the car park, formal gardens, sign posts guide you to historical Buildings and a viewing area, pressing room fermentation area.
Jeannette was very taken by the customer service shown, the lady that introduced us to their wines, talk us through how to taste the wine  properly, with a demonstration as well. 

This winery also had a good range of whites which Jeannette  enjoyed tasting the Chardonnay 2008, Riesling, Marsanne & Marsanne viognier.
I Tried 3 reds, Cabernet sauvignon, Shiraz & The All saints Durif. Armed with the Tasting session each time  I Tasted the wine I sensed / tasted something new in the wine, I am having problems with using the right words to describe it.
A very comfortable place to be, pity they were decorating  the restaurant, the grounds and the Indigo Cheese Shop were  there to walk round.
I was also aloud to see the Cask/Barrel room.


They line the open cemented vats with bee's and paraffin wax before the grape juice is placed inside ready for fermentation process.


Valhalla Vines


1k from All saints this very small winery is unique that in the wine celler there are picture on the wall showing the history of the building being built ie made totally of strawbales, also the vineyard practices sustainability, they embrace natural faming methods, rainwater harvesting, a worm farm waste system, composting, using recycled packaging and hemp fibre uniforms. 

Wine Bottle Rutherglen

Three wines I like, and original names.  

• Three Little Birds ( White Blend of Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.
• The Roaming Goat (Red Blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre
• The Ranga after his "red head son" Blend of Durif and Shiraz

Time For lunch, A 2k drive to the  Pickled Sisters Cafe at Colfield Wines.
We Ordered lunch- open steak sandwich with caramelised red onions and season chunky chips, salad for Jeannette.
After a great lunch, then a short walk to the wine seller. 
From their notes: The Colfields point of difference is their focus on crafting sparkling wines - both Pinot Noir Chardonnay and Sparkling Shiraz - traditional methods.
We tried all three of their Sparkling Wines,  2 mentioned above plus the Sparkling Sarah.
I found them all very nice and refreshing to drink, Yes I would buy them, from the tasting notes the Wine I especially liked

• Sparkling Sarah - Strawberry Fields Forever - abundance of strawberries and spring flowers. a delightful fizz with balanced sweetness - Berry Nice.

Another Day and after a false start with the WatchBox Winery closed, It will keep to another time.
Gehrig Estate - apart from being the Oldest Winery in Victoria Established in 1858, they disappointed by not being set up for visitors, no more said.

Rock on, next Winery and a fresh coffee beckons, up on the hill nothing around but fields, vines and views to die for.  
Vintara Winery


 We were met by Michael, very jolly fellow, we ordered coffee and a hot chocolate, being the only guys there we had the pleasure of talking to Michael, he told us about his background and the hard work they been doing to build this business from nothing and empty fields, including building this fantastic Winery, incorporating a Restaurant, conference  facilities and a great outdoor area, were weddings are held. 
I ask if he show me round the back areas were they make the wine, he and spoke with great passion for wine making.
The wines produced are big soft Rhone varieties and emerging varieties like Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Cinsaut, plus a range of whites, 
The wines we tasted we found fresh fruity, mellow and easy to drink, Jeannette like the Tempranillo her first real red! 
Off we went with a bottle of Tempranillo & Durif.




Stanton & Killeen
Home of "Jack's Block Shiraz"


Available at the celler Door 1.5l Magnum.




A good reason to check out this lovely situated winery approximately 3k west from Rutherglen, you walk in to a modern celler room that feels and shouts wine tasting, A large L shape bar area with wines ready for tasting, A mezzanine floor with painting around the walls, an area ready for groups, that looks down on the rest of the seller. 

Yes we did taste the wines.
 Jeannette the Whites, Riesling and the White Frontignac A light fruity med dry with floral aroma.
I tasted Jack's Block: very fruity taste of berries blackcurrant to me smooth drinking red.


This Winery also exports their wines to the UK.

Question: how do I start my own wine seller, without drinking the wine as fast as I buy it?


To Quote:
I have enjoyed great health at a great age because everyday since I can remember I have consumed a bottle of wine except when I have not felt well. Then I have consumed two bottles. - Bishop of Seville