Breakfast at Lola is a treat, the sun is shining and the natural
The low intervention wines from Eastern Peake, and Owen’s
sip our coffees and dine on fresh, light breakfast fare, while
eponymous Latta Vino range, are truly wines from wine lovers
light spills into the impeccably decorated dining room as we secretly coveting the “Lola BBB” (brioche brekky burger, bacon, cheese, pickles, fried egg, house ketchup) – maybe carbo-
loading would have been the smart choice considering our next stop is a winery, but despite my claims of a stomach
capacity rivalling that of a Ukrainian Ironbelly (where my Harry Potter fans at?), even I can’t continue like this forever.
Sunday 11am: The Eastern Peake Vineyards are set on a
small plateau at Coghills Creek in the Ballarat Highlands
some 25 km from Ballarat central. The dramatic backdrop
of the rugged granite outcrop of Mt Bolton (‘Eastern Peake’s’
namesake) is to the west of the vineyard, offering spectacular views on a sunshine-y February morning.
If you’re looking for truly special wines in the Ballarat region, you can’t go past Eastern Peake, and second-generation
winemaker Owen Latta is the Ballarat wunderkind making his mark on the Australian wine scene. Winning the prestigious
Young Winemaker of the Year in 2018, Owen’s wines continue to go from strength to strength.
14
more expressive, avant-garde releases under his own,
for wine lovers. A love letter to the terroir of regional Victoria,
the Lattas believe (as all the best winemakers do) that wines are made in the vineyard.
After a private tasting and tour of the vineyard and facilities
(and maybe a few purchases), the time has come to officially
declare our 24-hours (it might have been more like twenty-six, so sue us) up.
As we head back down the Western Highway we swear we may never eat again… but a few questions remain.
Did we sample everything the Ballarat region has to offer? Not even close. Does Ballarat tick all the boxes as a true foodie
destination? Without a doubt. And, most importantly, will we be back?
You can count on it. ** Make sure you check ahead of time re: opening hours, as many of Ballarat’s well-loved venues have been hit hard by COVID-19