If you’ve never visited Tahbilk Estate in Victoria’s Nagambie Lakes region, you’re in for a treat. Located 90 minutes from Melbourne, the sprawling property covers a whopping 1200 hectares, with just over 300 hectares under vine.
The rest of that land is made up of gorgeous natural scenery, a hidden oasis of waterways and wetlands laced with specially designed eco trails and timber boardwalks. Wander along one of these trails and you’ll be greeted by a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, with bird hides purpose-built to house the native birds ripe for visitation.
It’s not just native birds that are supported by this rich natural landscape, though. The estate is home to some of the oldest shiraz vines in the world, the first of these dating back to 1860. The property was purchased by Reginald Purbrick in 1925, and five generations later, the Purbrick family are continuing Reginald's legacy of using traditional winemaking methods to create beautiful wines. The original winery and cellar door are still present on the property, making Tahbilk Estate as notable for its history as it is for its wine.
With a gorgeous deck overlooking with Goulburn River, Melissa Clayton, Head of Marketing at Tahbilk, says the cellar door is the perfect place to enjoy a glass. "I love sitting outside on the cellar door deck with a glass of cabernet sauvignon (my favourite Tahbilk wine) and enjoying a cheese box...usually in good company with other members of the team!" Mel says.
Blend your own signature red wine in the Secret Art of Winemaking Experience.
Tahbilk is best known for its marsanne, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, all of which you can taste at the cellar door, as well as aged wines that have matured in their historic underground cellars dating back to the 1860s. Open Monday to Friday from 11am–5pm, and on weekends from 10am–5pm, the cellar door offers bespoke monthly tastings, including new vintage tastings, food pairing tastings, and vertical tastings through their back vintages. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, a vertical tasting involves sampling different vintages of the same wine, allowing you to see the evolution of wine over the years and understand how past vintages and the impacts of harvest effect the finished wine.
If you’re after a proper meal, you can’t go past the on-site Tahbilk Estate Restaurant, open daily from 11am–4pm for a relaxing lunch with views across the Tahbilk Billabong and wetlands beyond. The menu is crafted with locally sourced ingredients and has been designed to pair with Tahbilk wines, creating a matched food and wine experience. Not sure what to try? Melissa suggests the Char Grilled Lamb Backstrap, with pumpkin puree, lentils, salsa verde, pomegranate and Tahbilk Muscat reduction. "It's delicious and speaks of the local region, beautifully showcasing our chef Jonny's passion for great produce and talent for bringing flavours together on a plate."
For those after an experience that’s a little different, there’s more than enough to do on the estate. Enrol in the Secret Art of Winemaking Experience and learn how to taste wine like a winemaker, before combining different varietals to create your own unique red wine blend to bottle and take home. Or, visit on the fourth Sunday of the month and shop local produce while enjoying live music at the Nagambie Farmer’s Market. Open from 10am–2pm, the market is located in the Tahbilk cellar door yard.
Tahbilk also regularly hosts bespoke events. Every weekend this August, Tahbilk will be hosting a special vertical tasting of Tahbilk's most iconic wine, the 1860 Vines Shiraz. Hosted in their historic underground cellar and guided by one of Tahbilk's wine ambassadors, guests will be able to taste the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages, plus a pre-release of the 2017 vintage. The tastings are free for wine club members or $20 for non-wine club members. There a limited places available so bookings are essential. Book here.
For more information before your trip to Tahbilk, visit tahbilk.com.au.
And if you can’t make it in person, you can join Tahbilk’s free wine club for exclusive member discounts and products, so you can taste Tahbilk in the comfort of your own home. Sign up here.
