Photos are to follow for our birthday celebrations on the Australia Day weekend. Yes, Driven Indulgence has been taking people on paid tours now for one year. My gorgeous guests from Lara (near Geelong), Joe and Cheryl Walshe and Virginia and Peter Hogan, returned to the Yarra Valley to celebrate and encourage the new year in with a wine tour that took us from the Healesville to Marysville, Buxton, Seville, Yarra Glen, Gruyere, Coldstream and back home to Healesville. These are a few of their favorite wines from their best loved spots.
Buxton Ridge Pinot Noir and Molly Jean were hits, with Lorna at the helm in the morning. Thank you for your hospitality this morning Lorna. Beautiful Reidel glasses matched with the different wine styles to make the tasting ever so luxurious.
Boat O Craigo. Stunned by the view of Mount Riddell as a backdrop for the perfectly manicured vine rows and magnificent river gum's, our guests could sit back and enjoy every drop. Being impressed by one wine after another, they tucked a box of goodies under their arm with the Shiraz Viognier as their firm favorite.
Riverstone Estate Sparkling Wine and Tokay were firm favs from cellar door. Our guests were blown away with the views across the Yarra River flats from the stunning blue stone restaurant, cellar door and accommodation.
Whispering Hills had a fabulous Shiraz. After much discussion, as to which one was best, it had to be taken home for immediate consumption with the anticipated lamb roast Tuesday night. Thank you for your welcoming hospitality Jules, you went the extra mile for our guests and they loved it.
Seville Hill was holding a party on the grass with three larger than life jazz musicians on blankets under an large shady oak tree. When we rolled in for a tasting with John and Josie they were exceptionally busy but still had time to greet and talk with our guests to introduce them to some good wines. I will have to ask Virginia which one she choose as I got side tracked with the music!
Yileena Park, most requested winery on my wine tours this year, with repeat visitors still enjoying the craftsman built cellar door with views across the valley, set in the side of the Steeles Creek range. Bob and Dianne having tempted our guests with a tasting of a yet to be released Cabernet to be brought out in twelve months time that is drinking well now, had to settle for the, 'oh still so amazing Cabernets '02, '04 reserve and Cabernet Merlot reserve'. As we drove up the drive, not once but twice there was the sigh of relief and delight and an explanation from our guests that we were home. Coming to Yileena Park for them was like 'going home'. A big thank you from all of my guests this year Bob and Di, you have reliably shown genuine friendly hospitality and been a constant source of educational insights, delightful anecdotes, the stories and laughter, the wine are a heady mix that our guests just love. Thank you for being a big part of my year and encouraging and supporting my fledgling business. You and your exceptional wines, hospitality and unending energy for our guests deserve the highest acknowledgment. And you know my favorite wine is your Chardonnay.
At this point, some of you may be wondering why the title of this post says it was a heartfelt wine tour. Last year my first tour guests, Peter, Joe, Cheryl and Virginia enjoyed their wine tour of the Yarra Valley on the week prior to the devastating bush fires. Throughout the ordeal of the fires we were in communication with each other, Virginia sending emails to see if we were ok, and now, having returned to the valley one year on and visiting Kinglake, Steeles Creek, Healesville and Marysville, Narbethong, Buxton and surrounding area could see for themselves the utter devastation that took place.
I wont spend much time on the depths of the day, however they were deeply and profoundly moved by what they heard, saw and experienced and with their hearts wide open enjoyed every last meeting, purchased from the heart and were grateful for your hospitality, as a valley and surrounding community. They were blown away by Brunos' Sculpture Garden in Marysville and touched by Bruno and Marleen and their brave recovery efforts, which epitomizes and represents the grit and determination of so many living in the Black Saturday fire affected communities. It was indeed a privilege and an honor to visit and spend some time to support the businesses that have had the courage to rebuild.
My invitation is to take the time to visit Marysville and surrounding townships, drop in and see Bruno, he has the most wonderful sense of humor and his work is astounding. He is a funny, fun welcoming man, you can have a real chuckle with Bruno. He is so connected to the natural environment, he just wants you to come and share the wonder of it all. You will be blown away by what he has managed, with the assistance of his beautiful wife, friends and random strangers, been able to achieve in one year. (We met three lovely women from Shepparton and Mooroopna who were in the garden with their boots on pulling up weeds with Marleen ~ you gorgeous girls) Look at Brunos' website before you go so you can see what he had to work with after the fires, I think you will be touched and moved as we all are when we visit.
I wont spend much time on the depths of the day, however they were deeply and profoundly moved by what they heard, saw and experienced and with their hearts wide open enjoyed every last meeting, purchased from the heart and were grateful for your hospitality, as a valley and surrounding community. They were blown away by Brunos' Sculpture Garden in Marysville and touched by Bruno and Marleen and their brave recovery efforts, which epitomizes and represents the grit and determination of so many living in the Black Saturday fire affected communities. It was indeed a privilege and an honor to visit and spend some time to support the businesses that have had the courage to rebuild.
My invitation is to take the time to visit Marysville and surrounding townships, drop in and see Bruno, he has the most wonderful sense of humor and his work is astounding. He is a funny, fun welcoming man, you can have a real chuckle with Bruno. He is so connected to the natural environment, he just wants you to come and share the wonder of it all. You will be blown away by what he has managed, with the assistance of his beautiful wife, friends and random strangers, been able to achieve in one year. (We met three lovely women from Shepparton and Mooroopna who were in the garden with their boots on pulling up weeds with Marleen ~ you gorgeous girls) Look at Brunos' website before you go so you can see what he had to work with after the fires, I think you will be touched and moved as we all are when we visit.
A big thank you to my gorgeous guests, Joe, Peter, Cheryl and Virginia. Thank you for making it your mission to come back again to show your support for our valley's wonderful experiences. See you next year, enjoy the spoils of the valley and ridges!
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