A Bollywood surprise in Flinders
Sara Schwarz
Nazaaray Estate Winery, Flinders, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria [©Nazaaray Estate Winery]
Tucked away on a gentle slope with views over the southern tip of the Peninsula, away from the main wine areas of Red Hill and Main Ridge, Nazaaray Estate, is not your average Mornington Peninsula winery.
"Nazaaray translates to beautiful vision," Nirmal Ghumman, our gracious host, informs us, adding with a laugh "the kind you are likely to see after a few glasses of good wine!"
The vineyard is owned and operated by the welcoming and ever enthusiastic Paramdeep and Nirmal Ghumman, who moved to Melbourne in 1981 from India with no particular interest in wine and certainly no plans to start their own winery. However, weekends spent exploring the surrounding Melbourne countryside with their, then, two small children led to them purchasing land in Flinders in 1991. Tired of ‘cattle counting’ by 1996, they decided to put in a few rows of vines. The rest is history.
Stepping from your car, visitors are greeted by Sheba their friendly wine dog, who guides you into Paramdeep and Nirmal’s unique cellar door – a 1930’s red rattler train carriage 90 feet in length. Already the proud owner of a restored smaller train carriage, which serves as a guest bedroom for their friends, Nirmal rescued her red rattler from the nearby Dromana Secondary College where it had come into a state of disrepair. After hours of work and with great attention to detail, she has now lovingly restored it inside and out. Painted British Racing green, it sits in pride of place on the property and is an excellent showcase for their select range of wines.
Once inside, winemaker Paramdeep greets you as an old friend and takes you enthusiastically through his boutique range of wines - a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. All estate grown and carefully basket pressed each vintage by Paramdeep and his team, the wines are flavoursome and true to their regional characteristics.
For a number of years Paramdeep made wine only as a weekend hobby, entering his favourites into local amateur wine shows. After winning a few too many gold medals, he was gently encouraged to ‘go professional’ and for this we should all be grateful. His 2007 Pinot Gris won the 2008 People’s Choice award at this year’s Federation Square Regional Showcase Awards held in Melbourne.
Not only talented vignerons, the Ghummans are also generous hosts who hold semi regular events and festivals at Nazaaray Estate. The hit of the 2008 Mornington Peninsula Winter Wine Festival was Nazaaray’s Indian BBQ day. It included a Bollywood dance clinic, which a number of locals hope will become an annual event. Past events include a Street Hawkers Festival and locals-only lunch days for those in the know, catered for by Melbourne restaurants Chillipadi and Garlic Ginger.
Open to the public only on the first weekend of each month, recently Nirmal and Paramdeep have begun a table d’hote. On these days, for a set small fee, you are invited to join the Ghumman’s in whatever delicious meal happens to be bubbling away in their kitchen and a glass of your favourite Nazaaray wine. Alternatively guests are invited to bring their own picnic basket and enjoy the views and surrounds – a gas barbeque is provided.
The Ghumman’s latest venture is the offering of small group tours to the Northern regions of India in combination with Askoh Sikand of Ginger Garlic restaurant in the Melbourne suburb of Eltham. Native to the area, they are in the process of putting together select 15 day tours. These tours will combine sight-seeing (the Taj Mahal, Ranakpur temples, City Palace, Udaipur City), with elephant polo matches, visits to bird sanctuaries, jungle safaris and sunset boat cruises. The tours include all accommodation ranging from nights in royal retreats, to luxurious tents and nights staying at local farms, and are of excellent value. With these well versed food and wine lovers to guide you through the India they know so well, this is an opportunity like no other.
VisitVineyards.com members receive a complimentary gift upon any case purchase. Simply show your VisitVineyards.com membership card and be pleasantly surprised as to what the gift might be local wild mushrooms, a punnet of local raspberries or a baker’s dozen. Nazaaray Estate is, after all, delightfully different!
Regions
- Melbourne Surrounds (VIC)
- Mornington Peninsula (VIC)
Our Recommendations
To see our recommendations, ratings and reviews you must be a logged-in subscriber.
To subscribe please enter your email address in the "Subscribe Now - it's Free" box on the right and click the "Join" button, or fill in this form >
MEMBER BENEFIT: Nazaaray Estate - delightfully different and always enjoyable.
Short on time? Want to escape for a mid-week break? Our quick overnight itinerary for Victoria's Mornington Peninsula is ideal for golf, wine and spa loving Members of VisitVineyards.com »
If you want to have the full Mornington Peninsula experience in one day you need to get your skates on. This itinerary is a great Sunday drive - starting with a ... where we're sure you'll be enticed to stay until the sun goes down »
New research has shown that sugar not only preserves bread but people, fat people live longer than thin people - if they can just survive the diabetes. in his wine »
The Nazaaray Estate Winery is a micro boutique winery. It is arguably one of the smallest and southern-most vineyards, located near Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula. read more
Tutor your nose to detect the subtle aromas in wine and learn to appreciate and enjoy its complexities. VisitVineyards.com subscribers purchasing Le Nez du Vin aroma sets can save up to $110 and get two Essential Wine Tasting Guides for the price of one. Read about the 
Thinking celebration? Then surely thinking Champagne, the wine that's always part of life's most important occasions. And sometimes just for the pure bubbly, enjoyment. Dine and sip with royalty, celebrity at history-making moments with your copy of Champagne and Chandeliers by Bernadette O'Shea. VisitVineyards.com subscribers, you receive a 15 per cent discount on purchase 
Le Figaro calls her "the undisputed mistress of the kingdom of wine". Receive an immediate introductory 
Like to discover more about this state's lifestyle, wine, food and more? Then ask us now for your free copy of Tasmania 40 Degrees South the magazine that showcases the best of Australia's island state. 
In our No 1 Wine Book of 2010, Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein matches distinctive wines with recipes from his favourite chefs in this book focussing on new and emerging grape varietals. VisitVineyards.com subscribers and Members buying this book will receive a 
Featuring over 800 wines from the state's nine wine regions along with the his best of the West rated wines, The West Australian Wine Guide 2012 by Ray Jordan is a must for WA wine lovers. We also have three copies of the Margaret River Wine and Food Recipe Book 