Heathcote Shiraz-Coming to Melbourne

Heathcote Wine Club Celebrates Heathcote Shiraz with a Series of Wine Tasting

Events Starting Friday 28th March 2014 at BokChoy Tang Restaurant in Melbourne 

The Heathcote Wine Club is delighted to announce it first official public Melbourne Wine Tasting event on Friday 28 March 2014. Location is Bokchoy Tang Restaurant at Federation Square in Melbourne. Selected Heathcote wines, with our acclaimed Heathcote Shiraz leading the way, are on taste from 5.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Light food will also be available, or you can make reservations at the Bokchoy Tang Restaurant, which offers delicious contemporary Chinese Cuisine. 

  
Instead of travelling to Heathcote to taste the new releases and find hidden gems, Shiraz Wine Australia and the Heathcote Wine Club are coming to Melbourne. The event is open to the general public and is run by the Heathcote Wine Club, together with winemakers of the region.

So join us for a great opportunity and bring yourself up-to-date on all things Heathcote.  Meet and chat with boutique and renowned winemakers, taste the new releases and take advantage of special offers on the night. 

Space is limited and early reservations are recommended.   Book online at www.heathcotewinehub.com.au, or call us on 03 5433 2204.

While you’re there, make sure you check out the benefits of being a Heathcote Wine Club member, get the inside word, early heads up an new releases, access to special offers, VIP invites to special events, behind the scenes winery tours and heaps more.

Contact Information

If you want to attend the wine tasting or learn more about the Heathcote Wine Club, please contact Steve at:
Heathcote Wine Hub – “where you can taste 24 great Heathcote Wines every day”
105 High St
Heathcote VIC, Australia
+61 3 5433 2204
steve@heathcotewinehub.com.au

http://www.heathcotewinehub.com.au/wineries/heathcote-estate/

A wonderful week at the Heathcote Wineries

With a new and very demanding job I had taken on last year, and having moved house twice within 11 months, I needed a rest - Away from the city, from having to constantly be available and clutching multiple job-related tech devices, and away from the noise. (Can you tell that I was feeling a bit stressed?) And I only had one week to make it happen, too short a time to fly to Europe and do what I love doing so much: travelling in Italy’s countryside, drinking good wine and just enjoying the simple pleasures of life. And then it hit me.

Heathcote was only 80 minutes drive away and offered many similarities to the environment I was dreaming about without having to go on a long trip. So, on a sunny Friday afternoon, I packed my bags and was on my way to Heathcote and its charming wineries and renowned wines.  

I had booked a room at Domaine Asmara, a winery with a bistro and an adjacent Bed & Breakfast in the heart of Heathcote. Coming from Melbourne and following the Hume Highway it’s about 20 km past the Heathcote Township. Follow the Northern Highway towards Elmore and then turn right into Gibb Road. Here the warm hospitality of owners Henni and Andreas and their son Benjamin greeted me. Henni is originally from Indonesia and met her husband Andreas, quite an adventurous German as I later learned, in her home country before they came to Australia. “Asmara” is Indonesian for” Love and Passion” and this is indeed reflected in all their attention to the small details that make their guests feel so comfortable. I settled into my lovely spacious and bright room with a comfortable king size bed for the duration of my week’s vacation and started to relax.

My days started each morning with a lovely English breakfast on my beautiful verandah.  I looked across the vineyard facing Mt Camel and Mt Pleasant in the distance and leisurely enjoyed the meal while deciding my route for the day. 

My only requirements in terms of the decision-making process? - No set program, no time restrictions, no stress. And so every day I crisscrossed the scenic countryside through rolling hills, along eucalyptus lined roads and picturesque vineyards with stops at some of the nicest Heathcote wineries. I met some of Heathcote’s welcoming artisan winemakers, learned a thing or two about wine making, listened to their interesting stories, tasted some of the best wines ever, and had delightful little lunches and dinners in quaint courtyards and rustic bistros. I enjoyed every single minute of my Heathcote winery tours.

Three of the many highlights of this week were my trips to Tellurian, McIvor Estate and the Heathcote Wine Hub.  It’s amazing what you find out over a few quite reds, about the winemakers and the history of the winemakers.   I got to know so much more than you get to hear at a busy wine festival.  Some of the standouts are below.

Stefani Estate’s story is lovely.  It is located at the start of the Mt Camel ranges north of the Great Divide. The owner, Stefano Stefani comes from the rolling hills of Tuscany (here we go – the first connection that reminded me of my favorite holiday destination, Italy) His grandfather had owned a vineyard in Italy and was an avid collector of fine wines. Stefano came to Australia in 1985 and continued in his grandfather’s footsteps. He started out with a property in Yarra Valley and completed his Heathcote winery in 2003. Together with winemaker Mario Marson they produce an excellent Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon but I also loved their whites, a lovely Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. They even have an olive grove! On 9 hectares adjacent to the vineyard they grow varieties of Picual, Frantoio and Leccino olives and produce a heavenly rich extra virgin olive oil. 

Galli Estate turned out to be yet another great Heathcote Winery with Italian roots. Lorenzo Galli was also born in Tuscany and came to Australia in the 1950’s to make his vision of producing outstanding wines come true. And indeed he succeeded. In the last eight years Galli Estate has collected an amazing number of awards. Over 16 trophies, 22 Gold, 40 Silver Medals & numerous Bronze medals.

And then how can you go past Heathcote and not experience Wild Duck Creek, a winery about 8km west of Heathcote.  Steve at the Heathcote Wine Hub gave me a taste of their flagship  Springflat Shiraz, which was exceptional and you can see why it has received so many great praises from Robert Parker and James Halliday over the years.  I tried a couple of different vintages and each was rich, intense and velvety and simply tasted wonderful.  They also had a Cab Blend and ‘Little Whit Duck’ viognier which were both devine. Wild Duck Creek is a small family run winery where traditional winemaking methods are still very much fostered. Hand-picking, open fermentation, hand-plunging, basket-pressing, and long-term barrel-ageing are still used.

I could go on and on, but one thing’s for sure, this was the best and most relaxing week I have had in a long time and I’ve promised myself that the Heathcote wineries won’t have to wait too long to see me again.

Wineries of Heathcote – A Splendid Mix of History, Passionate Winemakers and Amazing Wines

As it so often happens in life, something starts out one way and ends up in a completely different place… Who would have thought that a region located at one of the richest gold deposits in the world would, about 100 plus years after the gold rush, be renowned for producing some of the best wines in Australia? And who, if you follow the history of many of the wine makers in the region, would have thought that such a diverse set of people could turn Heathcote and its wineries into a place that is now arguably in the top 1 or 2 regions for Australian Shiraz? 



The Wineries of Heathcote resemble indeed a most interesting collection of winemakers. There are those with a traditional wine making background, who have built wealth outside of the wine world and then cashed it in to follow their passion and start their own winery, there are those who simply fell in love with the region and stayed, and also the vineyard owners who began to make wine simply so they could drink the kind of wine they loved! – An exciting new generation of winemakers who have one thing in common: A never-ending love story with their wines and a warm hospitality that is generously extended.  Welcome to Heathcote!

Situated at the North of the Great Diving Range, and affectionately called “Shiraz Heaven”, this is the region where dedicated winemakers attentively nurture their vineyards to produce, in addition to the signature wines of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, the most interesting bottles of Grenache, Viognier, Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Marsanne.     

Heathcote boasts over 100 wineries and 30 open cellar doors, and it’s well worth taking the time to visit a few of them. Tucked into rolling hills, you will find inviting little boutique wineries and large scenic vineyards with vine stock as far as the eye can see.  Some Heathcote wineries offer accommodation, ranging from simply bed and breakfasts to luxury cottages with private pool, while at others you can stop and enjoy a nice meal together with your favourite bottle of wine.

You might want to start with the most southern winery in the Heathcote region. Barfold Estate produces elegant, powerful and complex red wines made from small-berried fruit on low yielding vines with minimal intervention. Craig Aitken, owner of Barfold Estate is a good example of a different but obviously very successful kind of winemaker. Craig spent 37 years as an IT specialist before he and his wife Sandra, now a viticulturalist, turned into winemakers and brought in their first crop in 2002: Barfold Estate 2002 Heathcote Shiraz won three medals including Gold at the Ballarat Wine Show, and their 2003 and 2004 Shiraz wines have been rated at 93 points in James Halliday's Wine Companion.

Your next stop could be Wild Duck Creek Estate (home of the famous Duck Muck), a small family-run winery located about 8km west of Heathcote, alongside the Wild Duck Creek.  Ask for their award winning Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon and treat your taste buds to an exceptional experience by having a taste of the Wild Duck Creek rarities from exceptional vintages.  As to the origins of Wild Duck Creek Estate? It’s very nicely summarized on their website: “Our humble origins date back to 1971, with the purchase of our first Heathcote property for $6,000! Since then, the adventure that is wine-making has brought with it a unique blend of sweat and tears, friendships, humorous tales, bizarre inventions, and of course, breathtaking wines.        

Driving further north, you will reach Jasper Hill, another good example of Heathcote’s diverse wineries. Established in 1975 by Ron and Elva Laughton, Jasper Hill’s wines are exclusively made from estate-grown grapes based on organic and biodynamic principles. To support a greater bio-diversity they use special techniques, among them, inter row mulching and self made organic compost. The result? As vines are grown on un-crafted root-stock and are non-irrigated, the grapes, including Riesling, Grenache, Vioignier and Nebbiolo, bring out the unique flavours and characteristics natural to their variety and terroir.  As Robert Parker from the Wine Advocat put it: “Whether it’s down to this very special rift of dirt or not, these wines are simply incredible.”?

And then there is Stefani Estate. Stefano Stefani comes from the rolling hills of Tuscany where his grandfather owned a vineyard and was an avid collector of fine wines. Stefani Estate is a family owned boutique winery that produces elegant wines including an excellent Merlot and a very popular Shiraz. Hand-picked grapes and lots of attention to detail ensure wines that consistently receive high praise. Following more of his Italian tradition, 12 years ago Stefano planted olive groves on 9 hectares of land adjacent to his vineyard and today, a rich Stefani Extra Virgin Olive Oil with intense flavours is on offer.

These are just a few examples of the Heathcote Wineries and their great products. The list could go on and on, but don’t take our word for it. Come down to Heathcote, drop into the Heathcote Wine Hub and find out for yourself…



Article Source : http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/wineries-of-heathcote-a-splendid-mix-of-history-passionate-winemakers-and-amazing-wines-6965994.html

Accommodation in Heathcote – Warm hospitality paired with outstanding wines

Heathcote is slowly becoming one of the best-known secrets for wine lovers in and around Melbourne - and for people who simply appreciate the good things in life. Besides Heathcote’s stunning landscapes, unique cultural events and farmers markets, you will find around 100 winemakers in the region. Their enthusiasm for making fine wine is only rivaled by their passion for great hospitality. So, whether you are planning to visit Heathcote for a relaxing weekend, or join us for a memorable wine tasting, here are some great insider tips on where to find wonderful hosts and comfortable accommodation in Heathcote.

Accommodation in Heathcote ranges from simple guest cottages, to convenient motels to luxurious bed & breakfasts, but they all have one thing in common – They make you feel at home and ready to indulge in what the region has to offer.

As the Heathcote Wine Hub represents most of the wineries in the area, we know the wine makers and we know a lot about their products from first-hand experience.  That’s why we have put together a list of some of the great accommodation in Heathcote, including information you need for your booking and links to the individual sites.

And of course, we’ll update you on anything that’s new.  Are you ready?

The latest new edition in a diverse and lovely range of  Heathcote accommodation are the Cranford Cottages.  Owners Cally and Steve Cranford opened their doors last October to invite couples to “Luxury accommodations and heavenly Heathcote wines”.  Nestled at the foot of Mount Ida and a short drive from a number of fabulous small Heathcote wineries, they offer 2 bedroom units, each with its own large sunny deck and everything you need for a relaxing and enjoyable short stay in Heathcote.

Greg and Natala Flynn of Flynn’s Wines have recently taken over the reins of the local motel and renamed it the Heathcote Retreat Motel. They refurbished this 10-room hotel and a self-contained 3-bedroom house with great care and attention to detail, and judging from the feedback of their guests, they have done a great job!  For further details visit www.heathcoteretreatmotel.com.au.

Rose Cottage,

The lovingly renovated 100-year old Edwardian cottage that blends the charm of both the old and the new world, has changed owners as well. Set in the heart of Heathcote, it has a lovely view of the McIvor ranges and is only a few minutes walk into town.  

Hut on the Hill is one of the most unique places you will find in Heathcote. Exclusively private, with a breathtaking view from each bed to the McHarg ranges, spacious rooms with cathedral ceiling, its own private, solar heated pool and only 15 minutes drive from many excellent wineries and restaurants, this property leaves nothing to be desired.Not far away is Heathcote Views, a new B&B that offers ‘Luxury in the Heart of the Goldfields” (see heathcotewinehub.com.au for more information).

Domain Asmara, - Asmara comes from Indonesia and means “Love and Passion” – is a small family run wine producer and B&B owner in the Heathcote region. Besides their 5- star-rated wines, owners Andreas and Henni and their son Benjamin also run a bistro that offers regionally inspired food, as well as cozy, comfortable B&B accommodation.  

Historic Heathcote House, which has been charmingly restored in French farmhouse style is located on the main street of town and offers a choice of traditional bed & breakfast accommodation or if you prefer self-contained units. The two-storey cottage is the prefect getaway for a romantic weekend and offers it all – from antique furniture to a claw foot bath, and old-fashioned veranda and an admirable view. 

They all have their own personality and charm.  The choice is yours! 

Article Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/wine-spirits/accommodation-in-heathcote-warm-hospitality-paired-with-outstanding-wines

Heathcote Wine Festival – A 2014 Must Visit Event

Got anything exciting planned this October? Then we strongly recommend making reservations for Saturday, October 04th and Sunday, October 05th, 2014. Get some friends to join you and make your way down to the 13th annual Heathcote Wine and Food Festival. Becoming more and more popular every time, last year’s Heathcote Wine Festival already attracted over 4,000 visitors from Melbourne and regional Victoria and the numbers keep growing. The fact that visiting ‘Shiraz Heaven” has turned into an annual pilgrimage for many attendees speaks for itself, and as the wine quality improves year by year, so does the festival …

With over 200 regional wines on offer in one location, the Heathcote Wine Festival is an event not to be missed. Wine enthusiasts will have the opportunity to meet over 50 passionate and talented wine makers who produce some of the most amazing wines from grapes growing on some of the world’s richest and ancient soils. They gather here at the Festival each year to offer you some of Australia’s most distinctive wines, and they are more than happy to answer your questions, share their wine and knowledge, and have a bit of fun along the way.

Enjoy the celebratory atmosphere at the Heathcote show grounds and look forward to tasting the best of the best the region has to offer: The Heathcote signature variety Shiraz, but also some great Sangioveses, Cabernet Sauvignons, Viogniers, Tempranillos and Marsannes. Embrace your favorites, discover promising new wines, and savour the taste of the award-winners. Alongside the wines there is delicious regional food and produce on offer, including nuts, cheese, olive oils and olive products, puddings, gourmet biscuits, prime beef, preserves, spices and much more. Indulge and enjoy! There are products from around 30 producers and vendors to choose from.

Get yourself a glass of wine, sit in the grass, relax, watch the cheerful goings-on and enjoy the live music. Don’t worry about the kids. They are in good hands and can once again look forward to a few nice surprises. Last year, the Heathcote Wine Festival entertained them with magic and juggling, giant soap bubbles, fire eating and comedy balloons, and judging from the feedback, they had a ball.

But the wine festival would not be complete without the opportunity to participate in one of the popular Wine Tasting Master Classes, Tasting Seminars and maybe one or another cooking demonstration over the weekend. Don’t miss out on these fabulous activities and make sure to book in advance, as space is limited and tickets are usually in strong demand.

There is convenient parking within the grounds, or if you prefer to leave your car at home, you can catch the Festival bus which leaves from Melbourne at Southern Cross Station (approx. $35 per person return) and Bendigo Train Station and Bendigo Visitor Centre (approx. $26 per person return). And while you’re there, grab the opportunity to take a short visit into Heathcote Township. The Festival Shuttle runs approx. every 20 minutes.


The Heathcote Wine Festival is located at Chauncey Street and the Heathcote Showgrounds, and opens from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on both days.

Blog Source:-  http://wineriesheathcote.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/heathcote-wine-festival-a-2014-must-visit-event/

2014 Saint Martin Heathcote Wine Show – A celebration of outstanding wines and talented winemakers

Last August, the inaugural Heathcote Wine Show took place and an overwhelming 290 submissions from 45 wineries presented the best of what the Heathcote wine region had to offer. Highly respected chairman of judges, Brian Walsh, remarked that the range of high quality wines that entered blew him away. Not a surprise then that this year’s second annual Heathcote wine show is eagerly anticipated. 

Beautifully crafted and measuring 100cm x 30cm, the Heathcote Grand Terroir award is an impressive sight - and rightfully so, as it is the symbol of a special accolade. This trophy is bestowed upon the Heathcote winemaker who is able to showcase the highest quality and style consistency across three shiraz wines spanning a minimum of four vintages for one singular wine label.

Last year’s Grand Terroir trophy winner:  From left:   Brian Walsh (Chief Judge); Jodi Marsh, Mark Hunter, Tony Hunter (Sanguine Estate Wines)

   The 2014 Saint Martin Heathcote Wine Show, as it is officially called, will take place from July 31 to August 02, 2014.  Less than 4 weeks away from the event, excitement is already in the air and expectations are high. Tonnellerie Saint Martin has been announced as the show’s naming rights sponsor for the next three years, and the Wine Show Committee has once again secured the presence of 7 of the very best wine judges in the country. Brian Walsh will again take the role of Chief Judge (formerly chairman of the Royal Adelaide Wine Show) will preside over a special panel of pre-eminent wine experts.

The show’s mission, to enable Heathcote winemakers to benchmark their products and to highlight Heathcote’s reputation and profile as one of Victoria’s high quality wine regions, has not changed.  Shiraz remains Heathcote's flagship wine, but the region with its famous rich Cambrian soil also produces a superb Cabernet Sauvignon, and outstanding examples of Viognier, Riesling, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot and Merlot.

With the help of the Heathcote Wine Show, the quality, diversity and longevity of Heathcote wines will be showcased and therefore only wines that are at least 85% Heathcote origin grapes are eligible.

Registration terms and entry requirements remain the same, but based on last year’s exhibitors’ feedback, a few minor adjustments will be made to the class structure. Mediterranean reds, Cabernet families and other reds in their own group classing will be specifically examined in 2014.

Winemakers have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and to share their experiences at the Heathcote Wine Show – ultimate goal is to continuously improve quality - and of course it is an event to celebrate the success of their hard work.  As Heathcote Wine Show Committee Chairman Graeme Quigley stated during last year’s celebrations: “The thinking behind the show is the exciting opportunity it gives us to look at how Heathcote wines travel through time, how they age, the quality and consistency of style coming from individuals and the region”.

Judging will take place on Thursday 31 July and Friday August 01, 2014 followed by celebrations that will culminate in a sumptuous 4-course dinner menu showcasing local produce and award winning show wines. The Award Dinner takes place on Saturday, August 02 in RSL Hall on High Street. Preceding it is an exhibitors tasting at 4.00 p.m. followed by a public tasting from 5 to 6.00p.m.

If it’s anything like last year, this’ll be a 2014 highlight to truly look forward to. So, join the judges and winemakers at 2014 Saint Martin Heathcote Wine Show and celebrate the great care, talent and finesse that goes into producing some of Australia’s best wines.    

If you can’t make it to the Wine Show dinner, then don’t forget the Heathcote Wine Hub offers tasting of over 24 Heathcote Wines, 7 days a week and a selection of 200 wines on sale.  The team is always happy to have a chat about any of the wineries and wines of the region and can be contacted on 03 5433 2204 or info@heathcotewinehub.com.au.

The Heathcote Wine Club – For Heathcote Wine Fans

Loyal fans and customers have long been waiting for this moment – The formation of a club that combines all things Heathcote Wines. With over 100 wineries spread out in the region, it’s not always easy for wine lovers, especially the ones who live in Melbourne, to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in Heathcote and to get their hands on the special wines before they are gone. Part of the problem is that the success and quality of Heathcote wines is built on individual wine making on a smaller scale, which inevitably brings with it limited production. Small boutique wineries also mean irregular open cellar doors. That’s why for many years loyal Heathcote Wine lovers often had difficulties getting hold of the good stuff before it was gone.
 
A creative solution has now been put together. The newly founded Heathcote Wine Club works with all the wine makers in the region and is designed specifically to reward loyal Heathcote fans and provide them with all the privileges that come only with membership.  Some of the highlights include member only special tastings with Heathcote winemakers, invites to wine blending sessions, working winery tours, access to a member only Wine Hotline, and invites to member only educational classes including food matching and lots of other free stuff.

The Heathcote Wine Club is very different to most other clubs.  Supported and run by the Wine Hub, the club represents all the winemakers of the region. It’s mission? To provide a single point of access to all the great aspects of the Heathcote wine region. The Wine Hub specialists know most of Heathcote’s winemakers personally and will generously share with you valuable tips and insider information on Heathcote.

So what does membership include?

This club is much more than just being able to get your hands on great wine. The Heathcote Wine Club has really gone out of its way to come up with a program that is different, and includes a lot of innovative and fun educational experiences and events. There are 2 levels of membership: Discovery Members and Privilege Members, which are both free to join.

As the name suggests, the Discovery Plan is the introductory membership for people that love Heathcote wine, want to know more about it and would like easy access to information and some of the pre-release member only deals.

Discovery Membership entails:

- Member discounts on all wine purchases (10% for doz, 5% for ½ doz)
- VIP invite at the Heathcote Wine Club’s wine experience sessions in Heathcote and Melbourne, including themed tasting evenings with winemakers, new release tastings and educational tasting events

- VIP Invite to “Be a winemaker for a day” blending session
- Priority invite to wine maker dinners in Melbourne
- Access to the Heathcote Wine Club member’s only Wine Hotline, where all your wine related questions (cellaring, food matching, vintage info) will be answered
- Regular newsletter with the latest news of the region, including new wine releases, awards and other interesting highlights

In addition to the advantages of the Discovery Membership, as a Privilege Member you will also receive:
- a case of twelve notable wines delivered to your door, 4 times a year.  This wine is offered at a member only price of 15% below retail.  A panel of Heathcote winemakers and the Heathcote Wine Hub sommeliers carefully select the wines.  To make sure you receive your favourite gems, you also have the opportunity to change the selected wines prior to delivery, and there’s a 100% money back guarantee on the wines.

- In depth tasting notes on all wines selected by the tasting panel for inclusion in the wine packs.
- Member discounts on any purchases above the wine Plan (15% for doz, 10% for ½ doz)
- VIP invite and complimentary entrance to the Heathcote Wine Club’s wine experience sessions in Heathcote and Melbourne, including themed tasting evenings with winemakers, new release tastings and educational tasting events

- VIP Invite and complimentary to “Be a winemaker for a day” blending session
- Free copy of the book “The People Behind the Wines of Heathcote”
- Free working winery tours (during vintage) for you and friends

There are also a number of Privilege member only special offers that will evolve further over time. At present they include

o Member only discount of 30% off non-Heathcote wine on www.MyHomeCellar.com.au.
o Permission to BYO wine bought at the Heathcote Wine Hub to Heathcote’s No.1 restaurant – the Willow Room
o 10% discount on any purchases (wine produce, food accessories) made at the Heathcote Wine Hub.
- Discounts of 20% on any Plumm Chrystal Glassware and decanters
- Free copies of James Halliday’s Wine Companion Magazine included in wine plan deliveries
- Pre-release notification/allocation of limited release premium wines
- $25 gift voucher for in store product purchases.

From the enthusiasm and energy of the winemakers and staff at the Hub, I can sense that the club is going to continually evolve, driven by their understanding of the wines and people of the region and their passion to share it with others in a fun and educational way.  If you like Heathcote then you need to be part of the Heathcote Wine Club.

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