Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort & Spa is one of the most well-established wineries with accommodation in the Yarra Valley and the 4.5 star resort is a great place to cosy up in winter. It recently won “Best Regional Accommodation of the Year” at 2015 Tourism Accommodation Australia (VIC) Accommodation Awards for Excellence.
We decided to take a one night mini-break as they were offering a Winter Warmer special with 50% off their normal rack rate. For families there are two options – the two bedroom spa suite which is a combination of either a Standard Queen Room with One Bedroom Spa Suite or the Privilege Spa Suite, or the and two bedroom Director’s Suite.
We stayed in the Standard Queen Room with the Privilege Spa Suite and it was so spacious – the kids loved running from room to room and we had the luxury of two separate bathrooms and a king size bed. The round spa bath overlooking the lounge room was a highlight! Plus our balcony afforded us a view of a rare double rainbow spanning the whole horizon after a rainstorm.
Due to the rain and cold we didn’t get to explore any of the resort’s other outdoor attractions or the indoor heated pool. So we spent the time eating….
We were invited to sample the new winter menu at Balgownie Estate’s on-site dining venue, Rae’s Restaurant. The restaurant’s menu has a strong focus on local produce and with many of the herbs and vegetables sourced from Balgownie Estate’s own kitchen garden.
Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Balgownie Estate, Yarra Glen
Every dish on the new Winter 2015 menu is created with a specific Balgownie Estate wine in mind, with potential wine matches recommended on both the a la carte lunch menu and also, the two and three-course dinner menus.
Rae’s Restaurant is situated at the top of Balgownie Estate’s pinot noir vineyard and you can watch the weather rolling into view while cosying up to the open fire with an excellent meal. There is lots of room for prams, high chairs are available and there is a short kids menu.
For entrees we tried the Master Stock Slow Cooked Pork Belly Glass noodle coriander, bean sprout, mint palm sugar dressing chilli caramel ($20). The pork belly was particularly good, tender and melting and I liked the slippery noodle salad with its tang of chilli.
From the main we ordered the huge Marinated Pork Scotch with Asian herbs and spices, Kumara mash, caramelised pineapple salad ($30). Again the pork was cooked perfectly, just a little pink and it’s sweetness highlighted by the pineapple.
We were too full for dessert though the choice was very tempting – pannacotta, brulee, semifreddo, parfait and cake. Unlike the entrees and mains the desserts didn’t include any Asian elements.
Balgownie Estate is a luxury escape just one hour from Melbourne. It’s surprisingly kid-friendly given the spaciousness of the rooms, the extensive grounds and the relaxed restaurant. While we probably couldn’t afford the accommodation at full rates at half price it was a lovely winter mini-break.
Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1309 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen +61 3 9730 0700
Comments are closed.