Staycation at Bellarine Estate
We enjoyed a stunning staycation (David & Samantha) at Bellarine Estate on the Bellarine Peninsula, including glamping with Coastal Glamp, Texas BBQ lunch at Bellarine Estate restaurant with stunning wines, cellar door wine and gin tasting with General Manager James Kenny, dinner and live concert, breakfast in the morning, and a special rum barrel tasting with Peter Kenny (Owner) and son Julian Kenny (Head Winemaker).
We were privileged to accept an invite to experience this family award winning business overlooking Cori Bay with Peter and Lizette Kenny living the dream, along with sons James and Julian.
We experienced a fabulous Texas BBQ Board for 2 featuring brisket, smoked chicken, free range pork ribs, smoked lamb, house sausage and Chef’s selection of sides. High quality bbq is fuelled by a large smoker out the back. Also, every dish that we saw brought out to other tables looked sensational.
I need to mention the incredible customer service regularly checking on our table.
Wines are a revelation featuring premium cool climate wines with fruit from the Estate. We enjoyed top notch wines with our lunch, and then later at a Cellar Door tasting.
Notable highlights were -
Two Wives Shiraz (smoky spicy characteristics)
Phil’s Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
We also were taken by Pierre’s Cuvée, a rosé style with yeasty characteristics on the lees for 10 years.
A wine and gin tasting at Cellar Door was a highlight. The range of Thirty Acres Distillery gin products is impressive and James took us through a stunning tasting flight including London style, Pinot and Shiraz Gins, and the gins in a can of Blood Orange and Espresso Martini.
View from our tent.
Coastal Glamp (separate business by Jon Hammond) is a fun staycation amongst the vines featuring all the creature comforts with a sustainable edge, sensational vineyard views, a comfortable tent with power, close to amenities, and a new shower block. Plus pastries and coffee in the morning and a hamper of local produce. Jon is a superb host.
A rum tasting with Peter and Julian the next morning was special. Stay tuned for their impending rum releases! A memorable experience only 20 min from Geelong.