Weekend in Rutherglen and Yackandandah

After a fabulous time in Beechworth, we were off to explore Yackandandah and Rutherglen.

Yackandandah

Yackandandah is a beautiful village nestled between Beechworth and Wodonga in the foothills of Stanley State Forest. With its history forged in the legacy of gold mining, the centre of town is classified by the National Trust and features wonderfully preserved buildings dating back to the 1800s. Yackandandah is now home to a large community of artists and makes for a magical location to unwind in Victoria’s stunning high country.

Saint Monday 

Saint Monday really is a place to sit back and appreciate all that is good. A sense of tranquillity pervades throughout and, combined with wholesome, seasonal fare and specialty fair trade coffee, Saint Monday is a wonderful place to be.

Passionate owners Chris McGorlick and Lauren Salathial pride themselves in working to strengthen the community both economically (by utilising organic, fresh local produce) and socially by creating a place for the community to share in events, performances or other creative gatherings.

The café prides itself in producing sustainable food without compromising on flavour. The menu is littered with beautiful and innovative dishes, including a large range of vegetarian, vegan, allergy/special dietary requirement sensitive food. When speaking with Chris, his passion for fostering strong relationships with local growers is palpable and these efforts are clearly apparent in the delicious dishes flowing from the kitchen.

We absolutely loved our breakfast. Of particular note was the stunning quinoa, pumpkin and creamy coconut porridge - the perfect way to start the day right. Cheekily named "Pepita pepita porridge eater" this dish was originally their dish for the #giveafork challenge and we're pleased it's still on their menu! Made from all parts of locally grown biodynamic pumpkins - the flesh, seeds and skin and combined with a delectable mix of spices, this vegan dish is a must try.

Location: 26 High St, Yackandandah
Phone: 02 6027 1202
Link: www.saintmondaycafe.com.au

Rutherglen

Needing little introduction, Rutherglen is one of Victoria’s premier wine and food destinations and has become synonymous with the production of world famous muscats and muscadelles. Boasting something for everyone, Rutherglen is home to over 20 award winning wineries and a range of outstanding restaurants and cafes which make the most of Rutherglen’s stunning local produce. Combined with beautifully tranquil camping, fishing and swimming locations, historic riding trails and superb local olives and chocolate, Rutherglen is truly a perfect holiday destination.

Jones Winery & Vineyard

Owners and siblings Arthur and Mandy Jones are the team behind this wonderful boutique winery and both share a simple philosophy - let the grapes do the talking. And boy do the grapes have a lot to say.

Courtesy of Jones’ 110 year old dry land vineyard, century old fermenting vats and Mandy’s extensive winemaking experience (Mandy spent 14 years working in Bordeaux), Jones Winery & Vineyard produces wonderful expressions of the Rutherglen “terroir” ranging from old vine shiraz and grenache, marsanne, malbec and durif as well as fortifieds such as their unique 'Apero' and 'Classic Muscat'. Whatever you do, make sure to try their highly acclaimed 'LJ' which is blend of predominantly shiraz with a touch of granache, sourced from Jones’ 110 year old vineyard – it really is a stunning, elegant wine.

Located within a recently renovated, atmospheric brick barn, the cellar door adjoins a delightful French brasserie which ties back to Mandy’s time in Bordeaux. It is clear that authenticity is key and the menu is filled with delicious, classic dishes that pair perfectly with Jones’ wines.

We began with an excellent entrée of warm roast pear salad with goats' cheese and walnut. This was a simple, elegant dish which allowed the beautifully sweet pears and creamy goats’ cheese to take centre stage. The main of Cassoulet was pure, classic French brasserie comfort food executed brilliantly. The confit duck melded with the flavoursome pork sausage and white beans and this rich, moreish combination was adorned with a crunchy herb crust which provided texture. Paired with a glass of LJ Shiraz, this was heaven.

Having been in the Jones family since 1927, Jones Winery & Vineyard has a rich history but continues to evolve and develop under the impressive leadership of Arthur and Mandy. With brilliant wines, a wonderful brasserie and a truly tranquil location, Jones Winery & Vineyard is exceptional in every way.

Location: 61 Jones Rd, Rutherglen
Phone: 02 6032 8496
Link: www.joneswinery.com

Lake Moodemere Estate

Sixth generation winemaker Michael Chambers and his wife Belinda own and operate Lake Moodemere Vineyards, which has been in the Chambers family since 1858. Located next to the picturesque Lake Moodemere, the cellar door allows visitors to sample the full range of estate wines produced with fruit from this historic vineyard.

Following a tasting, you can indulge in a selection of light lunches such as cheese plates and tasting platters, but the real show stopper is the estate grown Moodemere Lamb.

During our visit, we enjoyed 2 lamb specials - the lamb kofta wrap and Cyprus lamb salad. The lamb kofta wrap was a deliciously simple and tasty dish and the salad combined legumes with creamy honey infused Greek yoghurt, fresh coriander and almond slivers to create a medley of exciting flavours and textures. The tender, flavoursome lamb was cooked beautifully.

Lake Moodemere Estate is a wonderful place to enjoy local food (which in the case of the lamb, has had zero food miles) and a glass of wine while wandering through their enchanting gardens overlooking the beautiful Lake Moodemere.

Location: 12 Moodemere Rd, Rutherglen
Phone 02 6032 9449
Link: moodemerewines.com.au

Pickled Sisters

Located within the Cofield winery in the heart of Rutherglen, The Pickled Sisters Cafe is a vibrant, welcoming destination which is perfect for lazing on a sunny afternoon with friends over a delicious lunch or spot of afternoon tea. The Pickled Sisters Cafe has built up quite a reputation with both tourists and locals due to its emphasis on quality, local food and wine. We stopped in to The Pickled Sisters Café for some afternoon tea and could not look past the lemon and ricotta cake. Absolutely moreish, the cake was beautifully moist and boasted a delectable sweet savoury balance courtesy of the ricotta.

We also enjoyed meeting passionate Cofield owner and winemaker Damien Cofield and his wife Melanie who shared with us their inspiration and quest for continuous improvement across all aspects of the Cofield winery. A particularly exciting project on Cofield’s horizon, in collaboration with The Pickled Sisters Cafe, is Spring 2016 Glamping in the Vines. Grapevine Glamping, as it will be called, will offer a unique vineyard accommodation experience in Rutherglen, and is all about luxury camping, in comfort, on a working winery. You can find out more on the Cofield Wines website here. 

Location: Cofield Wines, Distillery Road, Wahgunyah
Phone: 02 60 332 377
Link: pickledsisters.com.au

 

Read about our trip to Beechworth here.