A lovely drop or two

A beloved local boutique winery gets better with every vintage, while a family-owned vineyard produces a shiraz blend that reinforces why the region is famous for its rich reds.

By Ashley Raeburn - Restaurant Manager - Alium Dining - Photography by Leon Schoots

SANDHURST RIDGE, FRINGE SHIRAZ CLASSIC BLEND 2012. BENDIGO.

Being recently named as a 5 Star Winery and one of only 10 awarded the Dark Horse Winery of the Year by the esteemed James Halliday has provided true recognition to one of Bendigo’s finest vineyards that has been producing award-winning wines for over 25 years. Owned and operated by the Greblo family, their history and knowledge of winemaking and agriculture certainly make for some outstanding wines. A visit to the cellar door can see you sampling favourites such as Shiraz, Cabernet Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc along with the lesser-known Italian varietal Nebbiolo. Here is another Bendigo wine that has aged gracefully and typifies the region’s emphasis of rich, ripe red wines. It is a blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from exceptional vineyards situated nearby the Sandhurst Ridge Estate, matured in a mix of French and American oak for 18 months before bottling. Aromas of dark black fruit lead into a rich palate full of flavours of blood plums, black cherry, blackberry and just hints of spice adding further complexity. Tannins have softened over time yet help deliver excellent length and the well-rounded, smooth finish add further class to the wine. Slow-cooked lamb ragu with pan fried gnocchi works a treat with this wine. MANDURANG VALLEY, ‘OLD VINE’ 2019. BENDIGO

This boutique winery seems to be getting better with every vintage. Family owned and operated since the first vines were planted in the mid-1970s, the Vines (yes that’s their surname!) now have three generations working together to produce exceptional wines from the Bendigo region. Hosting a particularly delightful cellar door and extremely impressive gardens, it is very easy to spend a spring afternoon sampling the ranges of wines with a gourmet cheese platter. Don’t forget to check out Pam’s regularly changing art exhibitions as well. The ‘Old Vine’ has evolved over the years yet remains the flagship wine for Mandurang Valley. Generally a blend of the Cabernet and Shiraz, the past couple of vintages have seen the addition of Malbec to the blend. Beautiful aromas of mixed berries and cherries come to the fore immediately, medium bodied and still with youthful tannins, the wine really opens up after a few minutes in the glass. The three varietals work harmoniously together, the ripe, red berry fruit flavours from the Shiraz combining beautifully with the cassis and blueberry characteristics from the Cabernet and Malbec. Try with a herb-crusted rack of lamb, fondant potato, red wine jus or for something different, pair with a rich chocolate dessert.

TURNERS CROSSING, CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013. BENDIGO.

Honouring the name of a former local publican who purchased the land at the site in1868, the vineyard is nestled on the banks of the Loddon River, about 50km northwest of Bendigo. Since the mid 2000s, the Turners Crossing team has been regularly producing exceptional wines from varietals such as Shiraz, Cabernet Viognier and the rare Italian varietal Picolit. Although Shiraz may be at the forefront of Bendigo’s history of red wine, the region also does a fantastic job in producing top-quality Cabernet. Luckily enough, Turners Crossing has kept some of this exceptional vintage and now is the right time to get your hands on it. This is an example of a beautifully aged Cabernet, the colour is starting to get a faint hint of red brick on the outside and delivers delectable aromas of blackberry, blueberry and very subtle hints of mint. The tannins have softened yet still play a major part in the rounded palate that bursts of further black fruit flavours of wellripened plums, mulberries and blackcurrant, leading into a longlasting finish. A nice piece of scotch fillet, sautéed mushrooms with a glass of this and you cannot go wrong! Will also continue to drink well for a number of years.