Function Report - Otways 2 Day Coach Tour

Saturday, 23 May & Sunday, 24 May 2009

On Saturday, 23 May 2009, 28 members and guests travelled to the Otways/Colac/Port Campbell region for a weekend of food, drink and fun.  Part of the fun was guessing how much variation there would be between the actual arrival times at venues compared with the times on the itinerary. 

Saturday once again saw Peter (Coach Captain) welcoming aboard members of the Wine Guild and friends.  Although numbers were down on this occasion it was "quality not quantity" as we set off on this fine and mild morning. Something seemed to be missing on the trip down Geelong Road, but that was soon rectified when we stopped at Waurn Ponds and our effervescent president Bob and Helen joined us in readiness for our first winery and the all important morning tea of Rolls and Pate etc.

Our first stop was Brown Magpie Wines at Breheny Vineyards, Modewarre, which was started by Loretta and Shane Breheny about 10 years ago, and named for the rare species of brown magpies that breed in the adjourning area. We had a sustaining morning tea of our customary bread rolls, pate, meats and cheeses washed down with tea and coffee, and a swig of brandy for some. Their nine hectares of grapevines were planted in 2001 and 2002.  Loretta stepped us through a tasting of their pinot noir, shiraz, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay in some folks’ opinion the Pinot Noir was outstanding.

After Bidding farewell we travelled onto the very upmarket OTWAY ESTATE WINERY and BREWERY at Barongarook, which is a boutique label produced by using only estate-grown grapes and traditional methods for their wines and the finest products sourced world wide with pure Otway rainwater for the “Prickly Moses” handcrafted beers, ales and stouts.  Over a lunch of roasted potatoes, vegies, yummy bread, pasta/salad and steak, we tasted their very refreshing Summer, Red and Otway Ales as well as their cold climate wines, which included chardonnay, rose, pinot noir and shiraz.

Feeling well satisfied, we continued on through the Otway ranges, bright green pastures, healthy cattle herds, lovely forest trees all much appreciated by those NOT having their after dinner nap!

Next stop was in the shed on the side of the road to visit PEVERIL VINEYARD and BEECY BERRIES at GELLIBRAND where a warm welcome was extended from Bruce and Margaret Rossiter who provided us with nibbles and led us through a tasting of their riesling, sauvignon blanc, rose and pinot noir.  In 1999, Bruce and Margaret decided to leave the city and start a second career in the country.  By 2001, they had found their land, built a house and planted their first vines.  Their first vintage was produced in 2005.  Bruce and Margaret also take advantage of the high rainfall, acidic and well drained soils to grow chemical free blueberries, which were purchased by several of the guild members.  In fact, the demand for the blueberry conserve could not be satisfied.

Peter Henderson, our always reliable coach driver then drove us over Lavers Hill through the very green and scenic countryside, giving us a commentary as we went (to keep us awake??) to our toilet stop where, after all the food and drink and sitting around in the bus, we got out in the fresh (brisk) air and had a good walk as we viewed the dramatic limestone cliffs, the back drop to the mighty and world recognised icons that are the Twelve Apostles, the tallest of which is 45 metres high. But the famous TWELVE APOSTLES are now only eight!!! A well set-up and busy sightseeing venue and it was good to stretch the legs prior to the short run onto PORT CAMPBELL to settle into our motels prior to "HAPPY HOUR" on the Motel patio. 

Half the group stayed at the Best Western Motor Inn, whilst the other half stayed next door at the Port Campbell Motor Inn.  After we had time to relax and rest after our big day, we met for drinks and finger food in the Best Western’s bar and veranda area.  Fortunately Andrew, the motel manager, allowed us to use this area after we decided that it was too cold to use the motel’s barbeque area.  The "bubbles and nibbles” were enjoyed by all... thanks Committee members.

Dinner was a short walk to Waves Restaurant where owners, Liz and Bill Kordupel made sure we were well fed on pumpkin soup, a choice of char grilled chicken breast with mixed vegetables, steamed potatoes and a chicken veloute or oven baked fish (still haven’t worked out what it was) with lemon butter sauce, mixed vegetables and steamed potatoes, followed by either sticky date cake with butterscotch sauce and ice cream, pannacotta with orange sauce or chocolate pavlova roulade; all washed down with riesling, sauvignon blanc and shiraz from Newton’s Ridge vineyard at Timboon. Even though the winemaker was not able to join us, we all enjoyed the wines that accompanied our meal. A brisk walk back to the motel bought a great day to close, where some decided to watch the footy and we all had a very comfortable night’s sleep.

Sunday, 24 May started with a brisk walk down to Waves Restaurant for a hearty hot cooked breakfast before heading off to the Timboon Railway Shed Distillery for something different. 

Tim Warwood, who is inspired by the great single malt whiskies of Scotland and the Isles, has established his distillery, using malted barley as the only grain ingredient, in a renovated railway goods shed, dating from circa 1910.  Tim was away, but his wife stepped us through the area’s rich history of illicit whisky distillers as well as a wonderful tasting of their products which includes a premium vodka, a strawberry schnapps, a coffee cream and a limoncetta in addition to the single malt whisky. What a lovely spot it was and a very interesting talk about the history in the area of distilling as well as the Pot Still process and a tasting of the results... very enjoyable.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we arrived at the Red Rock Winery at Alvie, which over the past ten years has gained an enviable reputation for producing ultra premium wines.  Rohan Little, the winemaker/owner conducted a tasting of the 07 Sauvignon Blanc, the 06 Pinot Noir, the 05 Jacks Paddock Shiraz and the 06 Charlottes Cabernets over a delicious Ploughman's lunch featuring local products such as olive bread and cheeses, homemade chicken, pork and pistachio terrine, and cured meats and pickles prepared by his wife Diminique, who also had the job of keeping an eye on their two young, energetic children.  The boy, Jack, actually locked the ladies out of the toilet but that is another story.

Everybody was also intrigued by the bright yellow 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera on display in the tasting shed. Rohan, who used to be a racing car driver, said this is his indulgence.

Our final winery for the day was St Regis Winery & Vineyard, which opened specially for us as a favour to Bob.  Well, it was where we were dropping him off!!   We had a tasting of their chardonnay, pinot noir and both shirazes before having afternoon tea as only the wine guild can do it. 

Farewell to Bob and Helen who would be home first for once.That left us well fortified for the trip home, which was just as well as we were caught in a traffic jam around Melbourne Park and the MCG.  Melbourne were playing Hawthorn.

Thanks to Peter Henderson everybody was dropped off safely at their respective drop off points and headed off to their homes laden with purchases from another well organised, successful and very enjoyable wine tour.  Many thanks to Bob Bailey and Graham Hall who were very busy behind the scenes making sure it all went like clockwork

Report compiled from input provided by Elizabeth Scott and Joyce Reyment