Rutherglen – VIC

The Rutherglen region was introduced to me as being famous for its Durif and Shiraz red wines. However, it’s pretty good at them all!

Unlike the wooden tasting benches that characterise most of Australia’s vineyards, in Rutherglen many places have a white counter to help you see the colour of the wine more clearly. This is a great feature to help those interested in seeing the characteristics of the wine as well as tasting them!

(PS. If you are looking for a game of golf, they get a bit more rain in Yarrawonga which is nearby and has a 45-hole public course near the holiday park to which you can pretty much just turn up!)

And Another Thing…
On the Queens’ birthday weekend (~June 10th) Rutherglen is the place to be with its Walking Wine Festival.

Rutherglen Tasting Experiences:

Campbell’s – has a massive tasting list; many inexpensively priced decadent wines. They had live jazz music and nice looking lunches on the lawn.

Jones – an aesthetically-pleasing quaint wooden shed venue, with an art gallery. Their tasty clean-skin cab-shiraz is $7.50/bottle so you can afford to get a case;

Bullers – quite liked, another big tasting list. Their Shiraz and Durif I’m told best characterise the flavours of the region’s famous grapes.

Andersons – Taste in a farmer’s shed and see their wine collection at which you can look but you can’t touch. The staff have lots of informative help to discuss character of the wines.

Pfeiffer –it’s cute little bridge over the river on site. They do have a very cute marketing scheme with their ‘Pfine Pfood…’

St. Leonard’s – this hilltop view is worthwhile alone. There is also a big eating room and many picnic tables beside the vines which have most picturesquely eucalyptus trees in the background.

ALSO: make sure you eat at Parker’s Pies—wow. I had the Tomato, cheese, bacon and chicken pie—nicest-ever pastry. And the Indian beef pie. Parker’s Pies will not disappoint you, even if you don’t like pies.