Baroota Vineyard in Southern in Southern Flinders Rangers, Kilikanoon Vineyards( Photo courtesy of Kilikanoon)
Day Tripping in Oz
By Mike Muirhead, Sommelier( ISG, CMS), CWE
Australia is HUGE. As a Canadian, I always found it comical when I travelled in Europe and people were gobsmacked when I told them that it is not uncommon to drive 12 hours to go skiing in the Rockies. Growing up on the Prairies, everything is a trip— hockey in Neepawa, badminton in Winkler, visiting the cousins’ cabin in Ontario. A long trip is going to visit the same cousins in Vancouver and making it there in three days. Australians feel our pain. If you look at the major cities in Australia, they are separated by about the same distance as the major Canadian cities. Travelling from Vancouver to Calgary is equivalent to travelling from Sydney to Melbourne; Toronto to Quebec City is Melbourne to Adelaide; Winnipeg to Montreal is Adelaide to Perth. The major difference is that, in Australia, these spaces are littered with vineyards.
I have been lucky enough to live in Australia, and visit on three different occasions. It is a diverse country with many attractions. When people tell me they are going to Australia, my first question is always:“ How long are you going for?” No matter what their response, my answer is always the same:“… not long enough …” It is difficult to see all that Australia has to offer in one visit; their wine regions are as diverse as their country is large. My suggestion is this: do not try to see everything in one trip; rather, enjoy the time you have by discovering one region or state in all of its diversity. As a starting point, here are three day trips from three major cities( some include sleepovers!).
Sydney to the Hunter Valley, NSW – Day trip
Sydney is the most common destination in Australia. It is a vibrant city and has something to offer everyone. If your trip includes Sydney, make sure you take time to drive approximately two hours north to the Hunter Valley. There are many tours that leave from the city, so you can enjoy the wine offerings without worrying whether you are going to make it back in one piece( you will be driving on the left-hand side after all). Make sure you try some Hunter Valley Semillon( the Aussies pronounce it Sem-i-lawn) and Shiraz, two varieties that have been thriving here for well over a century. Be sure to include Tyrrell’ s and Brokenwood wineries among your stops.
Melbourne to Yarra Valley, Victoria – Day trip, plus a day
Melbourne is often considered the cultural capital of Australia. What Sydney has in sights and beaches, Melbourne has in food and culture. Some of the most unique wines come from the cooler climate of the Yarra Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the kings here, but anyone willing to try cooler climate Cabernets and Sauvignon Blancs will be greatly rewarded. If you can settle in the small town of Healesville, book far enough in advance to stay at the Healesville Hotel. Not only does the hotel serve as a central point for all of the Yarra Valley, it also has one of the best country restaurants in Australia. While in Healesville, you don’ t have far to go to find innocent bystander / Giant Steps, which houses a dynamic tasting room,
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