Planning a visit to the wine regions of South Australia was
a daunting task. Planning a trip to a region that you have not been to is even
more daunting. I had tried to book a couple of places with no luck but was
able to get connected and booked with the Menzies Retreat at the Yalumba Cellar Door in Coonawarra. People say (you know, people) that things happen for a
reason, and even though my heart had been set on another place to start with this worked out perfectly.
Whatever the reason, it happened, and it could not have been better. The
Menzies Retreat is a super nice well equipped, beautiful, comfortable, serene and magical place to stay.
It all fell into place when I was put in contact with Claire Gleeson, the Menzies Wine
Room and Retreat Manager. Claire took care of all the details and the stay was
brilliant. The resort is a two bedroom large apartment style place immediately
adjacent to the cellar door. This roomy, fully self contained B&B has
everything anyone could need with the only possible thing missing being a
washer and dryer.
The Menzies Retreat is a truly wonderful place to spend some
time barbecuing on the deck or sitting on the bench out in the native scrub
listening to the birds and trying to catch a glimpse of the local wallabies. If
you prefer to look at nature thru the window, you can make an espresso with the
fancy coffee maker or have a glass of wine and sit inside and look out into the
scrub or the vineyards or both even at night with the exterior spotlights. I barbecued the first night and we ate
out on the deck while enjoying a glass of fabulous Yalumba wine, the Menzies it
was. Just by chance (if you believe that)! The place is totally stocked for
breakfast and that’s just what was needed prior to venturing out into
Coonawarra to try some of the other area wines. One has to do the work you know.
Checking in was a breeze and Claire had set up a tasting
of some Yalumba wines for us. She had also brought along the vineyard
manager James. This is also where I was introduced to the Wrattonbully area
wines (story here).
Claire and James put on a fantastic tasting of some of
the Smith & Hooper wines from Wrattonbully as well as some of Yalumba’s
premium wines. The tasting was done in the Menzies Retreat which just added to
the atmosphere and special nature of the tasting.
The Menzies and the Cigar
were my favorites, and bottles were purchased at checkout to take back to
California to share with that Kiwi if he can behave. While talking with Claire and
James, I was impressed by their passion for what they do and a pride for whom
they do it for. The Yalumba Company is Australia’s oldest family owned winery
and there must be something more than stuff to their success. We can only
surmise, that the family has inspired the people that work for them to have a
passion for what they do that is rare, and that it is these amazing people of
Yalumba that feel a part of the legacy and of the future, that makes this such
a successful and innovative company. See a small list below.
Coonawarra is not the only place that Yalumba operate and we are looking forward to meeting more of the people and places of Yalumba.
Look, I could go on and on about how great the Menzies
Resort is, but it would just end up sounding like a travel brochure, so to sum it
up; We fell in love with the Menzies and highly recommend it as a
“must stay” when in Coonawarra. If I thought it would make a stronger point it
would be highlighted or underlined. It seems like a side note and that is
definitely not the case, but the wine was excellent. All the wine tasted was
good and very good a couple were exceptional. Top wines, top place and top
people. It can’t get much better!
Happy
travels,
Cheers,
WineWalkabout
Kiwi & Koala
The following list of some milestones in Yalumba’s
history is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
1849
Samuel Smith, former Dorset brewer obtains 30 acres of land just above Angaston
from John Howard Angas. He names the property Yalumba, an aboriginal word
meaning "all the land around" and, together with young Sidney, builds
"Osborne Cottage" and plants his first vineyard.
1855 Samuel Smith exhibits his first wine - red and
port at the Angaston Show.
1860 -1876 Yalumba becomes a significant purchaser of
grapes from other local growers. The descendants from these early growers are
still supplying grapes to Yalumba to this very day.
1883 Yalumba wines shown at Calcutta Exhibition boasting that
they have been awarded prizes for 'full-bodied wines' at London, Paris,
Bordeaux, Philadelphia, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
1964
British Wine and Food Society includes its first Australian wine - Yalumba 1961
Carte D'or Riesling - on its list.
1966
Sir Robert Menzies, Australian Prime Minister, announces that the 1961 Yalumba
Galway Vintage Special Reserve Claret was the best red wine he has ever tasted.
From this, began "Signature Series" wine.
1986 First vintage of The Menzies Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
is released.
1988
Yalumba controlls its own vine propagation by producing rootstocks free from
virus and phylloxera. These vines are being planted out in the Company
Vineyards, as well as being passed on to growers.
1998
Yalumba is a finalist in the Ibis Award which acknowledges the outstanding
efforts of Yalumba in integrating wildlife conservation with successful,
commercial, sustainable farming.
1999
Final plantings of 328 acres of vineyard at Wrattonbully (see upcoming blog),
in the Limestone Coast region, south-east of Adelaide is undertaken.
2001
The Menzies Wine Room and Vineyard opens in Coonawarra.
2004
Agreement reached with ENTAV International for Yalumba Nursery to receive
authentic French clones.
2005
Yalumba launches Vitis - a total quality environmental management program for
their vineyards and for their growers.
ISO14001 Enviornmental Management System registration, covering processes
involved in receival of grapes, winemaking processes, the filling, packaging,
storage and distribution of red, white, fortified and sparkling wines, and
spirits.
Yalumba becomes a finalist in for the Business Leadership Award for outstanding
achievement in the promotion and facilitation of greenhouse gas action within
the industry.
2006 Yalumba is honoured as Australia's first 'Leader' under the
Australian Government's Greenhouse Challenge Plus Programme, with a recorded
decrease of 9.5 per cent in greenhouse emmissions for every litre of wine
produced at Angaston.
2007
Yalumba recognised by the US Environmental Protection Authority with a Climate
Protection Award for their whole-of-business Environmental Mangement Programme.
A first for the world wine industry.
Simple elegance. Yeah that’s it! Simple elegance. That is
how Koala would describe his experience at Shaw & Smith in the beautiful
Adelaide Hills. Set in some rolling lawn areas with vineyards to one side, some
gum trees to the other and a small lake for that added touch. It is just visual
elegance. The tasting room is also very simple yet elegant. Two sides of floor
to ceiling glass to be able to enjoy the view and a series of tables set to
help achieve that. It’s a classy setting with a well put together pairing of some
lovely Adelaide Hills wine, cheese and crackers for your enjoyment.
All the
while, a knowledgeable individual will guide you through the experience with as
little or as much input as you need.
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