Macedon Ranges Wine & Food Day Tour (Private)
- Duration: 9 Hours (approx.)
- Product code: MRWF
The Macedon Ranges are so close to Melbourne and are often overlooked for the more commercial regions. That lack of commercialisation is in fact a great attraction for an area that sees itself becoming Australia's sparkling wine capital.
HIGHLIGHTS- Lyons Will Vineyard
- Granite Hills Vineyard
- Hanging Rock Cafe
- Curly Flat Vineyard
- Hesket Estate Vineyard
Travel to the north of the city to the family owned and operated Lyons Will Estate at Lancefield. Located at an elevation of more than 500 metres above sea level they enjoy warm days and cool nights which suits the production of their cool climate wines.Their 10 acre vineyard is planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay and Riesling. The tasting of these wines will be complemented with a chese platter.
A short drive away is Granite Hills Winery at Baynton. The oldest operating vineyard in the region, their vines date back to 1970. The Riesling, Shiraz and sparkling in particular are highly sought after although their second range of wines also provide some excellent value and choice. Cheese & biscuits would accompany the tastings that would be hosted by the owner and winemaker, Llew Knight or his effervescent wife Andrea.
Nearby is the imposing Hanging Rock which rises more than 300 feet. It was formed six million years ago when a particularly stiff type of lava formed a rounded pile of layers on the surface as it was squeezed through a narrow vent in the earth. Since its formation, the mamelon has been exposed to considerable weathering and erosion, resulting in the unusual rock formations that can now be seen. Hanging Rock is also well known from the novel by Joan Lindsay, Picnic at Hanging Rock and the film made of the story – about the mysterious disappearance of a group of local schoolgirls during a picnic at the Rock in 1900.
After enjoying lunch at the Hanging Rock Cafe, it’s off to the Curly Flat Vineyard in Lancefield. Situated 550 metres above sea level, Curly Flat is a small family operation dedicated to nurturing the best possible fruit from the superb terroir and turning that fruit into the highest quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio it is possible to produce.
The day concludes with a visit to the Hesket Estate Vineyard at Hesket. Like Lyons Will, they'll be opening especially for you so there's no likelihood of sharing the space with other guests. With an elevation of 660 metres, this is one of the highest planted vineyards in Victoria. Established in the 1980's, the well established vineyard produces small quantities of high quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sparkling.
