Feb 07

Last year after our previous Yarra Valley experience, we decided to get a group together to attend this year’s Grape Grazing Festival (check it out at http://www.grapegrazing.com.au/) and add on some wine tasting, a meal experience at the famous Healesville Hotel http://www.healesvillehotel.com.au/files/index.html
and a night stay at the wonderful Tuck Inn http://www.tuckinn.com.au/home.html.

Grape Grazers from left to right, Richard, Niklas (aka Necklace), Ana, Debbie, Jo, Kev, Jeffro

Good ol’ Kev, the brilliant organiser, made all the arrangements and 7 of us were on way in a mini van driven by you-know-who, headed to the vineyards! Apart from the heatwave everything went smoothly and we all laughed our way through the weekend. I think the highlight of the trip was when Debbie Croker jumped the serving counter at Medhurst Winery to hug and kiss the winemaker Ross, yes the wine was that good. Have a look at their website http://www.medhurstwines.com.au/website/default.asp

Debbie jumping the wine maker!

Also, I must use this space to say that we visited Medhurst simply by accident as it was next door to Coldstream Hills. The Cellar door manager of Coldstream yelled to us from the hill blurting out that they did not want buses, (well we did consider our little bus more of a people mover) – and we were the only ones there. We’d have preferred a rejection delivered in a nicer way, and if only he’d let us in they would have sold a couple of cartons easily..(never mind, one of our grape grazers watered his tree on the way out). Anyway, these Coldstream Hills drinkers are not anymore, so next time, try the Medhurst instead!

Killara Estate - Ana & Niklas enjoying the Cuban sounds

Killara Estate

Some familiar grape grazers at Killara

Other highlights were:
The delicious meals at Healesville Hotel accompanied by an enormous wine list including international wines, which were selected by our personal sommeliers, grape grazers Richard and Niklas. The service was attentive with attention to detail, the table was beautifully decorated with vases of red roses, candle light, and situated in our own dining room.

Kev taking in the aromas of the Pinot, do you think he enjoyed his dinner??

All of us at the Healesville Hotel

Breakfast the next day was in the communal area, all seated around the 3 metre long table. Eggs cooked anyway you like by the lovely Regina, even with a bit of black pudding on the side if you choose (and Kev chose!) she also serves up a very nice flat white too.

Niklas & Richard topped up their cellars at Oakridge Estate http://www.oakridgeestate.com.au/one/about.html, and Immerse http://www.immerseyourself.com.au/, between visiting the Acacia Ridge winery which was included in the festival. There, we bopped away to Wilbur Wilde playing his saxaphone .. Debbie managed this photo with him..

Deb with Wilbur Wilde

With Jeff doing the directions, and Kev in the driving seat..

Kev Driving

Jeff doing the directions

..we managed to get back to the airport safely. It was definately up there with one the best weekends we've ever had, and to top off our luck Kev managed to get 4 guests into Qantas Club on his membership, by just sheer charm, so the early evening we enjoyed more indulgence. Then..it was back to reality!

Final photo