Wine Tasting

Today we plan to go and visit a couple of vineyards and do some wine tasting or at least I'll be doing most of the tasting and Dave most of the sniffing of fumes as he's driving. But first, mainly because I can't face an alcoholic drink before midday, we drive around the coast of the Bellarine Peninsular. The roads are wide and straight all set out in a grid pattern, the surrounding land flat. The coast is very different here, not the dramatic surf pounded coast of the Great Ocean Road, its low lying, shallow beaches and turquoise seas gently rolling onto the sand. The small towns have the feel of retirement locations.

Our first stop is Jack Rabbit Vineyards, www.jackrabbitvineyard.com.au recommended by the receptionist here at Bellarine. Its a very plush and polished venue, with waiters eager to seat you for lunch but equally welcoming for us cellar door wine tasters. Having paid my 5 dollars for a tasting, I'm taken through the extensive list of white, rose and red wines, Dave enjoys the fumes and sneaks a few sips especially of the red wines. They are much lighter than the Spanish reds we enjoy in Tenerife. We decline lunch and move on to the next vineyard.



Jan at Terindah Estate

The second stop is at the Terindah Estate, www.terindahestate.com described as a boutique winery with award winning wines. Its appearance from the car park is not promising it looks like a giant metal barn but as we enter and are warmly welcomed by the young hostess we realise that appearances can be deceiving. The other side of the building has stunning views of the bay and Melbourne. Again I am treated to a great range of wines and this time Dave joins me with the reds. Lunch is simply amazing, Kangaroo and smoked eel for Dave, Dory for me. All the staff are very friendly, the chef shares his expertise with how to cook kangaroo, but I still don't feel confident about it. After lunch we watch the wineries 2 dogs, one black and one chocolate labrador racing around the grassy area in front, following the owner back to his house (yes he was lunching just behind us with all the other staff). They certainly have a great life there.
Oh and on arrival back at the campsite, we have discovered that we can spin the front seats round to enjoy sitting either side of the table.