Scotchmans Hill is the ideal location to wine and dine this Autumn
Subscribe
X

Subscribe to Forte Magazine

Eat

Scotchmans Hill is the ideal location to wine and dine this Autumn

As the weather turns cooler amongst delightful sunny days, clear nights, and the occasional shower of rain, Autumn weekends are made for a trip to a winery.
Scotchmans Hill is a leading local winery in the heart of the Bellarine Peninsula that has been producing cool climate wines since 1982 and rated among James Halliday’s Top 100 Australian Wineries.
The Scotchmans Hill winery and Cellar Door is located in Drysdale, Victoria, Australia; the vineyard is 75 minutes drive from Melbourne CBD, and only 20 minutes from Geelong.
A trip to Scotchmans Hill is a chance to enjoy some delicious wine in an iconic and beautiful area. With a humble charm and initial cottage sight, the rustic cellar door instantly strikes your curiosity. Inside the setting is light filled and homely, with an intimate tapered roof and lengthy wooden L-shaped bar which wonderfully creates an opportunity to chat with fellow wine enthusiast about their experiences.
Heading outside, the terrace is decked out with bricks, a number of outside settings, umbrellas and a picturesque view overlooking the immaculately maintained vineyards, accompanied by Port Phillip Bay and the Melbourne skyline, makes a perfect (and spacious) backdrop to enjoy a glass of your favourite drop with your favourite company.
Now that you’ve got an idea about the pure ambience and charm of the most renowned winery on the Bellarine, it’s also worth noting this world-class outfit produces some wonderful cool-climate reds and whites of several varietals, and they offer the full range of their estate grown wines for tasting at the cellar door with knowledgeable staff on hand.
Whether you are a wine newbie or an experienced taster, wine tasting is a fun way to learn about what you like and don’t like. It’s the perfect opportunity to try new wines, and Scotchmans Hill have the knowledge to make sure you find the perfect drop just for you.
During the wine tastings, the staff (and self-confessed wine affectionados) are approachable and informative; you are literally treated as a long lost friend. It’s their job to know everything about the wines they’re serving and trust us when we say, they do. Not only do they tailor a tasting to your individual needs, whether you’re into whites or reds or only prefer the sweet stuff, the staff will keep it fun as well, making sure you get the very best out of the experience – even if you’re still learning the difference between your pinot gris from your pinot noir.
Let’s be honest though, when you think of wine, you think of cheese… or specifically, you think of a big, beautiful cheese platter on the table, glowing with all types of cheeses, perfect fruit and crisp crackers. The opportunities and mouthfuls are endless. Scotchmans Hill understand and value this, with their delectable platters on offer for visitors to kick back and indulge in two of life’s greatest culinary pleasures.
Mans
Think a selection of Drysdale Goats Cheese, Mersey Valley Cheddar, Apostle Whey ‘Bay of Martyrs’ blue cheese, Otway Walnuts, Manzanillo Grove Olives alongside Barwon Valley Ham, Cabonossi, Prosciutto and rounded out with La Madre sour dough, Lavosh crackers and even some luscious dip. Are you drooling yet?
On top of their mouthwatering platters, they are now serving light lunches featuring seasonal, local produce with offering such as the smoked chicken wrap, fresh salads, local pork on La Madre charcoal brioche buns and the standout reuben sandwiches. Perfect if you are in need of a afternoon snack to go alongside that bottle of award winning 2016 Scotchmans Hill Chardonnay.
The Scotchmans Hill team believe that wine, according to Ernest Hemingway anyway, is one of the most civilised things in the world, and if you’re sitting on a shaded patio outside your favourite cellar door, sipping a glass of their finest product and taking in the charming Australian countryside that surrounds them, it’s certainly hard to argue.
While summer may be gone, don’t put away those floppy hats just yet; round up your favourite crew and honour the most beautiful season of the year with a trip to Scotchmans Hill.
For more information head to www.scotchmans.com.au/.
Written by Talia Rinaldo