{"id":35913,"date":"2013-04-02T02:00:29","date_gmt":"2013-04-02T02:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=21160"},"modified":"2015-03-13T11:55:24","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T01:55:24","slug":"recipe-for-the-perfect-escape-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/vc\/blog\/recipe-for-the-perfect-escape-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Recipe for the perfect Yarra Valley escape"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Preparation<\/h3>\n

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\u2022 Grab your entourage<\/strong> – Invite your best company to maximise your memories. I\u2019m lucky enough to be hitting the Yarra Valley with lastminute lovely Shauna<\/a>.
\n\u2022 Hire some wheels<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 The Yarra Valley is conveniently located just an hour out of Melbourne\u2019s CBD, which makes it the perfect place for a day trip or even better (especially with the wine on offer), a few nights. It\u2019s a destination well worth savouring.
\n\u2022 Pack your stretchy pants<\/strong> – There\u2019s a whole lotta food to tantalise your tastebuds here, so think smart when packing \u2013 you won\u2019t want to miss out on the desserts on offer.
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Ingredients <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ingredient 1: Start with a decent base<\/strong>
\nStarting a getaway on the perfect note is pretty easy when you\u2019re staying at Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort & Spa<\/a>.
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We check in to our two bedroom director\u2019s suite and are super stoked with the killer view before us.<\/p>\n

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Room with a view, check!<\/p><\/div>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Making sure we get the most out of our home for the weekend, we start night one with an unforgettable three-course meal at on-site Rae\u2019s Restaurant. Each course outdoes the next, and I can tell by Shauna\u2019s scraped clean plate that hers was pretty darn good too.<\/p>\n

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Entree: I tuck into a Crab and Prawn Tian and Shauna has the herb crusted goats cheese with house grown beetroot and apple salad.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Main: I opt for the market fish which is a delicious fillet of salmon, and Shauna has the 18hr sous vide lamb rump \u2013 both equally delicious.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Dessert: We share the Assiette for two, consisting of chocolate delice, apple cheesecake, lemon panna cotta, house made sorbet and meringue. Now you see it…<\/p><\/div>\n

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… Now you don\u2019t.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ingredient 2: One cup (or three) of wine<\/strong>
\nHello wine-lover\u2019s heaven! There are over 75 wineries and cellar doors to choose from in the Yarra Valley, so do a little research before you go to make sure you don\u2019t miss out on your faves.Here are mine:
\nDomaine Chandon<\/a><\/strong>: Established by French champagne house Moet & Chandon (that\u2019s Mo-et not Mo-ee) in 1986, Domaine Chandon is a must-visit for any champagne lover. True to its heritage, the winery is super lavish, offering a Chandon tasting bar, guided or self-tours, and the ever-so-delicious Greenpoint Brasserie. In the name of research, we head straight to the tasting bar where we sample a few too many before our guided tour. It\u2019s safe to say the trip is off to a bubbly start.<\/p>\n

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Tim @ Chandon tasting bar<\/p><\/div>\n

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Lunch at Greenpoint Brasserie; Zuchinni flowers stuffed with goats cheese & Salmon for me, Duck for Shauna. One word \u2013 Amazeballs<\/p><\/div>\n

De Bortoli Wines<\/a><\/strong>: Having remembered drinking this wine from my younger years (straight from the cask, ewww) I was a little sceptical about this one. But I was so wrong! De Bortoli is one to watch out for. With beautiful rolling vineyards, and a delicious range of drops, I highly recommend a visit here.
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Top tip:<\/strong><\/em> Make sure you try De Bortoli\u2019s Noble One \u2013 this mouth-watering dessert wine has won more awards than any other dessert wine in history. Nuff said!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Yering Station<\/a><\/strong>: Located in a super adorable restored winery, be sure to take your time at Yering Station. Built to architectural pour-fection, there are stunning artworks spread throughout the cellar door to take in.
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Oakridge winery<\/a><\/strong>: Oakridge is the turning point for me. Coming from an ABC background (Anything But Chardonnay), I\u2019ve finally found a chardy that I could drink on the reg \u2013 2011 Oakridge Local Vineyard Series Chardonnay, Denton Vineyard. Yummmo!
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Top tip:<\/strong><\/em> If time\u2019s on your side, make sure you pop into the restaurant. The share platters are top notch.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Rochford Wines<\/a><\/strong>: With time running out we manage to quickly squeeze in one more winery for the day. We head to the adorable family owned venture, Rochford Wines. Well worth a visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Top tip:<\/strong><\/em> Make sure you try the La Droite \u2013 a 50\/50 blend of cabernet frac and merlot which makes a delicious drop worth tasting.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Ingredient 3: A dash of oil<\/strong>
\nA perfect escape wouldn\u2019t be complete without a massage, so we head off to Balgownie Estate\u2019s very own, Natskin Day Spa<\/a>. After 60 minutes of unforgettable pure indulgence, I\u2019m rejuvenated and ready for as much wining and dining the Yarra can throw my way. Bring it on!
\nIngredient 4: A dose of greens <\/strong>
\nYou wouldn\u2019t normally think to visit a garden display in a wine region (hello, there\u2019s drinking to be done), but I\u2019m here tell you it\u2019s a must in the Yarra Valley. Alowyn Gardens<\/a> has six areas to explore but my favourite had to be the edible garden \u2013 not only do the apples taste amazing (fresh off the tree), but the gourds make for hilarious rude veggies. Check it out.<\/p>\n

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So mature, right?<\/p><\/div>\n

Ingredient 5: A splash of colour<\/strong>
\nA getaway to Victoria wouldn’t be complete without a bit of culture. We get to explore Jeffrey Smart’s \u2018Master of Stillness\u2019 works at the fabulous TarraWarra Museum of Art<\/a>*. The exhibition showcases his art from 1940-2011 so you can really begin to appreciate his broad range of works over his expansive 61 year career. My favourite piece has to be Morning practice<\/em>, Baia 1969.<\/p>\n

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Morning practice, Baia<\/em>
Jeffrey Smart, 1969
Oil on canvas on composition board<\/p><\/div>\n

Just right beside the Museum of Art is the TarraWarra Estate<\/a> – yep, you guessed it another vineyard. We\u2019re lucky enough to get a behind the scenes tour of the winery, where we taste some TarraWarra vintage right from the barrel! It\u2019s pretty cool to taste the difference between barrelled and bottled vino \u2013 I must admit, I\u2019m a bottled kinda gal.
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Ingredient 6: A pinch of sugar<\/strong>
\nAnyone with a sweet tooth will agree that a perfect escape isn\u2019t complete without indulging in some naughty treats. The newly opened Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery<\/a> has over 150 different chocolate varieties available for temptation \u2013 so you can forget about that diet right now.
\nThey are so passionate about the quality of their chocolates that they fly in Belgian and French chocolatiers to handcraft everything in store. My favourite thing about this place (apart from the chocolate of course) is the huge glass window where you can watch the chocolatiers working their magic, making everything from scratch right in front of you.<\/p>\n

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Erh mar ghard<\/p><\/div>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Ingredient 7: Something fine to finish<\/strong>
\nThe icing on the cake for the perfect escape has to be our last night\u2019s dinner at the one \u2018hatted\u2019 restaurant, Eleonore’s Restaurant. Located at the super fancy Chateau Yering Historic House Hotel<\/a>, this award winning restaurant truly is the cherry on top. With a menu designed by Executive Chef Matthew McCartney, we reach palate perfection with a three hour meal, overlooking the Chateau\u2019s gardens. Yum!<\/p>\n

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My entree: Suckling pig with white onion puree, rhubarb relish, black pepper jus<\/p><\/div>\n

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Food envy! Shauna\u2019s entree of miso-cured kingfish with nahm jim sorbet, caramelised cashew, Thai salad<\/p><\/div>\n

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For mains: Chilean sea bass with chilli crab cannelloni, radish, fennel, avocado puree. Shauna indulges in Yarra Valley sirloin, chickpea chips, red cabbage slaw, bordelaise sauce<\/p><\/div>\n

So there you have it, combine these ingredients to create a delicious recipe for the perfect escape.
\nRae’s Restaurant, Balgownie Estate<\/em><\/strong>
\n\"Rae's<\/a><\/p>\n

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery<\/strong><\/em>
\n\"Yarra<\/a><\/p>\n

Eleonore’s Restaurant<\/em><\/strong>
\n\"Eleonore's<\/a><\/p>\n

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