Mitchell Harris has been producing high quality, elegant bottles of wine since 2008 and with the introduction of a Cellar Door and Wine Bar in 2013, it seems there is no stopping the fantastic foursome behind this expanding business. Mitchell Harris is a joint venture, owned by couples Alicia and Craig Mitchell, and Shannyn (Craig’s sister) and John Harris. Alicia handles the day-to- day running of the wine bar, Craig takes care of the social media side of things and Shannyn provides business management support.
John himself is the Winemaker, bringing with him extensive experience in winemaking. John’s impressive resume includes a degree in wine science from Charles Sturt University, vintages at Brown Brothers in north east Victoria and eight years with Chandon in the Yarra Valley. In his role with Chandon, John spent time at some of the best wine-producing regions in the world, including the Napa Valley and Champagne.
John has been injecting these experiences into Mitchell Harris’ wines since the first bottle was produced. This intimate knowledge of winemaking has helped him create the comprehensive wine list for the Mitchell Harris Cellar Door and Wine Bar. The wine list shines a spotlight on Western Victorian drops but also surprises and delights customers with offerings from all over the world.
Mitchell Harris wines work with a number of growers around Ballarat and the surrounding wine regions. John and his team of winemakers work closely with these producers to ensure fruit is grown to the utmost quality and fits the specifications for each wine that is produced.
John has a love of sparkling wine and this passion is evident in the flagship wine – the 2012 Sabre. Carefully assembled from chardonnay and pinot noir grapes from vineyards in Henty and the Macedon and Pyrenees Ranges, Sabre hasbecome a renowned Australian sparkling wine that pairs well with seafood and poultry dishes.
Sparkling wine fans can enjoy matching the dry aperitif style of the Sabre vintage with one of the delicious options on the menu at the Mitchell Harris Wine Bar.
Chef, Dianne Ray has designed a simple, yet sensational menu that offers an exceptional range of dishes to complement John’s hand-selected list of wines. The knowledgeable and professional staff do all the hard work for you, meaning all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the perfectly paired food and wine.
Growing up in regional Victoria, and having had the opportunity to travel the world, the Mitchell Harris team developed a love for food, seasonality and freshness, which they inject into the menu. With a love of colour and experimentation with new flavours is evident in many of the dishes, as is their passion for locally sourced ingredients, with the menu incorporating produce from a range of local providores, including Greenvale Farm, Tuki Trout Farm, Camilo Olives and Mt Beckworth free range.
Nibble on a selection of cheeses from local producers or share a plate of blue corn chip nachos with green pea guacamole, pico de gallo, black beans and jalapeno sour cream. For something a little larger, try a confit duck toastie with caramelised red cabbage and sour cherry relish.
While nibbling away, let your eyes take in the magnificence of the 140-year- old building. The team followed a principle of ‘less is more’ in the design with exposed brick and original woodwork remaining a key feature. Industrial designer, Stuart Crumpler, hand-crafted wooden doors to fit the original brick archway and a falling angel mural, by talented street artist Vexta, adorns the main wall. The décor and open plan design of the kitchen creates a welcoming and modern space in which you can take a seat and enjoy a glass of world-class wine.
Mitchell Harris Wines truly does offer an all-round experience. From producing a range of excellent Western Victorian wines and creating a modern space where people can gather to enjoy fresh, seasonal food to teaching wine-lovers how to create their own favourite drops, Mitchell Harris has it all.
You can read all about these fantastic venues and much more in Smudge Publishing痴 Flavours of Victoria, out now. Available from smudgeeats.com.ausmudgeeats.com.au, the featured venues and all good bookshops.
Provided by Smudge Publishing.
Where: 38 Doveton St Nth, Ballarat VIC
Ph: (03) 5331 8931
Site: www.mitchellharris.com.au