Voyager Estate

We booked a tour of the winery followed by tasting of 6 wines and a set lunch for $75 pp. It was extremely informative and a most enjoyable experience.

Voyager Estate Dutch Colonial architecture

The second largest flag in Australia.  To its left is the litte red vehicle which took 10 of
us around the estate

Our guide was from Bordeaux and had previously worked on the Leuwin Estate next door. This photo was taken at the "Old Block", where the vines are about 40 years old and still producing.

Our guide was French, with a degree in viticulture

Inside the cellar

The cellar is built partially underground to maintain an even temperature of 15 degrees.  The roof is arched, to allow airflow up and over, so that any hot air rises and then falls again.  The cellar and the stock of barrels seemed incredibly small to me; last time I was in a wine cellar was at Sandemans in Porto, which is enormous by comparison.

The wine casks are French oak and only used for 4 years

The tour concluded with wine tasting - 6 wines, including my favourite Girt By Sea Cabernet Merlot, which is 70% cabernet and 30% merlot. as well as an older Cab Sav Merlot, with only 7% merlot and 4% petit verdot, selling at $70 per bottle!

Then, it was time for lunch, with 2 courses, a glass of wine, followed by coffee.  Everything was elegant and perfect. The menu read: Black Angus Beef Fillet, Celeriac Puree, Kale, Broccolini, Purple Carrot, Faro - these veggies are all the rage at the moment.

Delicious Black Angus Beef Fillet for lunch

Rose - Prospero

The rose garden was at its best in late October.  There was also a vegetable garden, where all the broad beans were crying out to be picked, but had been evidently ignored by the chef!

Rose - French Lace