Managed to just squeeze a table for four in by booking just over a month ago but well worth the wait!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Worth the wait
Have just returned from an evening at Russell's Pizza in Willunga. Loved the casual atmosphere, BYO fabulous McLaren Vale wines, and the never ending pizza...
Managed to just squeeze a table for four in by booking just over a month ago but well worth the wait!
Managed to just squeeze a table for four in by booking just over a month ago but well worth the wait!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Bikes and Booze
We had friends round last Saturday and after lunch we decided a bike ride to a couple of local wineries was in order.
Our first stop was Kangarila Road Winery. Huge cellar door in with a lovely outlook over the vines and they were particularly proud of their McLaren Vale Zinfandel.
Our second stop for the afternoon was the beautiful Hoffman's Wines, tucked away down Ingoldy Road. A lovely little place with a nice cellar door and I really fancy trying the Currant Shed Restaurant sometime soon. We loved the 2006 Shiraz and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon so bought a couple of bottles - all be it a bit of a challenge carrying them home on bikes!
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Our first stop was Kangarila Road Winery. Huge cellar door in with a lovely outlook over the vines and they were particularly proud of their McLaren Vale Zinfandel.
Our second stop for the afternoon was the beautiful Hoffman's Wines, tucked away down Ingoldy Road. A lovely little place with a nice cellar door and I really fancy trying the Currant Shed Restaurant sometime soon. We loved the 2006 Shiraz and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon so bought a couple of bottles - all be it a bit of a challenge carrying them home on bikes!
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Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Finest breakfasts in the Fleurieu Peninsula?
Today we went for a 'hearty breakfast' (we had a busy day of domestic things planned and felt that a hearty breakfast would set us up nicely) at Christina's on the High Street in Willunga.
And hearty it was... and delicious too! We both had the full monty (Christina's Breakfast - Free range eggs, Ellis smoked bacon, pork and herb chipolatas, roast cherry tomatoes, roasted field mushrooms, sautéed spinach and house made toast) and thoroughly enjoyed it. We both agree that we haven't had such a good breakfast in a long time.
The ambiance was great to as the cafe is in a renovated historic church and it was buzzing with couples of all ages, families, tourists and more!
We will definitely return!
And hearty it was... and delicious too! We both had the full monty (Christina's Breakfast - Free range eggs, Ellis smoked bacon, pork and herb chipolatas, roast cherry tomatoes, roasted field mushrooms, sautéed spinach and house made toast) and thoroughly enjoyed it. We both agree that we haven't had such a good breakfast in a long time.
The ambiance was great to as the cafe is in a renovated historic church and it was buzzing with couples of all ages, families, tourists and more!
We will definitely return!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Lovely Shiraz
Just a quick note to say that we drank our bottle of Mclaren Ridge Shiraz and absoultely loved it. Delicious dark chocolaty smells.. mmmm. I'm sure it shouldn't have been a 'Wednesday night' wine... much more a Sunday afternoon wine! (on a cold wet winters day!)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Rain and sniffles - this wasn't meant to happen
We've been slightly rained off this weekend by both being a bit 'under the weather' with yukky colds but still managed to make it out this morning for a nice hot chocolate and 'health slice' at Market 190 in Mclaren Vale. From our quick glance this place looks fab and we are definitely going to head back one day for brunch or lunch.
Last night we replaced lemsip with red wine, more specifically a bottle of the delicious Maxwell 'Little Demon' bought last week from the cellar door. At just $15 a bottle we are definitely going back for more... this wine is delicious (if it is this yummy with our bunged noses we can only imagine how nice it would be with a clear head!).
Last night we replaced lemsip with red wine, more specifically a bottle of the delicious Maxwell 'Little Demon' bought last week from the cellar door. At just $15 a bottle we are definitely going back for more... this wine is delicious (if it is this yummy with our bunged noses we can only imagine how nice it would be with a clear head!).
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Three weeks here...
We moved into our fantastic new home three weeks ago this weekend and have been busy unpacking, moving things around, moving things around again and sweeping floors (the hazard of living on what is still a bit of a building site).
However, we have managed to spend some time settling in to our new area and are on the road to become true locals already!
Wineries
Scarpantoni - our nearest winery and the winery that stole us from a healthy Sunday afternoon walk and gave us lashings of beautiful wine. Bought a couple of bottles of The Brothers Block Cabernet Sauvignon - one for now, one to cellar and drink in
Paxton - great setting. Bought a bottle of their AAA Shiraz Grenache to go with our dinner. Must remember to return in summer for a bottle of their Late Harvest to serve over ice. Yum.
Maxwell - Had a delicious Sunday lunch of pate, Paris Creek cheese and lovely bread accompanied by a glass of 2006 Ellen Street Shiraz. Bought a bottle of 2007 Little Demon Cabernet Merlot to take home and enjoy in the next few weeks. Really enjoyed trying their Meads - defo must remember the spiced Mead served hot for cold winter nights! What a shame bonfire night isn't celebrated in Australia...
Mclaren Ridge - Stunning views. Really like the look of the luxury accommodation at this vineyard, especially the villa with its own pool. Bought a bottle of their Shiraz Cabernet Franc Merlot to keep for a few years and threw in a bottle of their straight Shiraz to drink now for good measure!
Fox Creek - Not sure why I expected this vineyard to be commercial looking but I was surprised by it being completely the opposite. Lovely little cellar door with a lovely cosy feel and wood burner to give you that rosy feeling. Sampled four of their reds and couldn't resist a JSM Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet France to put away for a while and a Duet Cabernet Merlot to go with dinner!
Food
Willunga Farmers Market - what better place to do your weekly shop that Willunga Market? We've been here every Saturday morning since moving in and have signed up as members which gives us 10% off all our purchases. We've loved the fruit and veg we've so far purchased here and look forward to eventually getting around all the stalls!
Willunga Quality Meats, 8 High Street, Willunga - nice and local sort of butcher. Bought some minced beef to use in a spag bol and the usual bacon for Sunday brekkie!
Hamlets Meats and Small Goods, 33 High Street Willunga - A delicious 'smoked' smell hit us as we went into this butchers and we got some lovely bacon for our Sunday brekkie and a delicious fillet of pork that we used in a thai curry.
Mclaren Country Meats - We were tempted into this butchers by a special offer on their Wagyu beef and really enjoyed it for dinner that evening! Yum.
Salopian Inn, Mclaren Vale - we had the most fantastic evening at this lovely restaurant to celebrate Dan's 30th birthday. The highlight of the evening (other than the great service and brussel spouts cooked in butter and nutmeg) was getting to visit the cellar to choose our wine. We went for a delicious Gemtree 2005 Obsidian - (quite possibly the closest thing to heaven yet discovered) and a bottle of Rutherglen Muscat to finish.
Shops
Tall Poppy Productions, Shop 1/1 Aldinga Road, Willunga - a great little find that is full of lovely gifts (both for ourselves and other people!)
By the way, don't expect every post from here on to be this detailed - it has been en exciting first three weeks living in the Mclaren Vale wine region and I'm not sure we'll keep up at this pace (though it would be nice!)...
However, we have managed to spend some time settling in to our new area and are on the road to become true locals already!
Wineries
Scarpantoni - our nearest winery and the winery that stole us from a healthy Sunday afternoon walk and gave us lashings of beautiful wine. Bought a couple of bottles of The Brothers Block Cabernet Sauvignon - one for now, one to cellar and drink in
Paxton - great setting. Bought a bottle of their AAA Shiraz Grenache to go with our dinner. Must remember to return in summer for a bottle of their Late Harvest to serve over ice. Yum.
Maxwell - Had a delicious Sunday lunch of pate, Paris Creek cheese and lovely bread accompanied by a glass of 2006 Ellen Street Shiraz. Bought a bottle of 2007 Little Demon Cabernet Merlot to take home and enjoy in the next few weeks. Really enjoyed trying their Meads - defo must remember the spiced Mead served hot for cold winter nights! What a shame bonfire night isn't celebrated in Australia...
Mclaren Ridge - Stunning views. Really like the look of the luxury accommodation at this vineyard, especially the villa with its own pool. Bought a bottle of their Shiraz Cabernet Franc Merlot to keep for a few years and threw in a bottle of their straight Shiraz to drink now for good measure!
Fox Creek - Not sure why I expected this vineyard to be commercial looking but I was surprised by it being completely the opposite. Lovely little cellar door with a lovely cosy feel and wood burner to give you that rosy feeling. Sampled four of their reds and couldn't resist a JSM Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet France to put away for a while and a Duet Cabernet Merlot to go with dinner!
Food
Willunga Farmers Market - what better place to do your weekly shop that Willunga Market? We've been here every Saturday morning since moving in and have signed up as members which gives us 10% off all our purchases. We've loved the fruit and veg we've so far purchased here and look forward to eventually getting around all the stalls!
Willunga Quality Meats, 8 High Street, Willunga - nice and local sort of butcher. Bought some minced beef to use in a spag bol and the usual bacon for Sunday brekkie!
Hamlets Meats and Small Goods, 33 High Street Willunga - A delicious 'smoked' smell hit us as we went into this butchers and we got some lovely bacon for our Sunday brekkie and a delicious fillet of pork that we used in a thai curry.
Mclaren Country Meats - We were tempted into this butchers by a special offer on their Wagyu beef and really enjoyed it for dinner that evening! Yum.
Salopian Inn, Mclaren Vale - we had the most fantastic evening at this lovely restaurant to celebrate Dan's 30th birthday. The highlight of the evening (other than the great service and brussel spouts cooked in butter and nutmeg) was getting to visit the cellar to choose our wine. We went for a delicious Gemtree 2005 Obsidian - (quite possibly the closest thing to heaven yet discovered) and a bottle of Rutherglen Muscat to finish.
Shops
Tall Poppy Productions, Shop 1/1 Aldinga Road, Willunga - a great little find that is full of lovely gifts (both for ourselves and other people!)
By the way, don't expect every post from here on to be this detailed - it has been en exciting first three weeks living in the Mclaren Vale wine region and I'm not sure we'll keep up at this pace (though it would be nice!)...
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