St Leonards, Rutherglen - total peace and quiet plus great food and wine
Interview with Greg Lawrence, Cellar Door Manager, St Leonards Vineyard, Rutherglen, Victoria
Wine Tasting at Rutherglen in Victoria's High Country [©Visions of Victoria]
Greg Lawrence, Cellar Door Manager, St Leonards Vineyard, Rutherglen, North East Victoria [©VisitVineyards.com]
Greg Lawrence at St Leonards Vineyard in Rutherglen reckons life doesn't get much better than sharing a hamper and a bottle of wine sitting by the Murray.
"People are coming to the region because they know it’s obviously a wine area but they are looking for escapism; they are looking to explore, try new things, especially folk from Melbourne. They’ve got the Yarra Valley on their doorstep and the Mornington Peninsula but they get a pleasant surprise when they do get here.
"It’s not over commercialised. It’s got a nice warm, friendly, family feel about it. No disrespect to say people like the Hunter Valley or maybe even the Yarra Valley, they are great areas, but they are very, very commercial, where we are still a little bit laid back. By the same token we are offering a very good service.
"We can do a cheese and antipasto platter, you can sit here in a bit of comfort, and then on Sundays the place will be packed and it is just nice for the family. From Melbourne it’s a three hour trip, so it’s a great escape. People will base themselves here, or at Corowa or Beechworth, and then go off and do a whole lot of things, and that’s the lovely thing about Victoria, it’s such a compact State.
"The Murray River was the bread and butter of this country; it’s lovely to have on our doorstep. We are lucky. We also use the Murray for our (vineyard) irrigation of course, so it’s fantastic.
"St Leonards Vineyard is probably one of the picks of the area when you come into this region. We all have fantastic wines, but you can sit here in total peace and quiet and the occasional kookaburra might come and sit on the table next to you and look to be fed. That’s what it’s all about I think, especially if you’re from the city."
Regions
- North East Victoria (VIC)
- Rutherglen (VIC)
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Learn more about wine production in the Rutherglen region.
Was it mines or vines that first brought Rutherglen its pioneering citizenry? It hardly matters. It's the town's old, gnarled vineyards that continue its strong ... make it such a charming region.
St Leonards Vineyard is nestled on the banks of the Murray River overlooking the rolling vineyards. It's the perfect spot to relax with a great bottle of wine and ... read more
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