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Loving all stylish and wonderful things in life, fashion and interiors. I am English but living my life in the fabulous city of Melbourne in Australia. Welcome and please read on.... (contact me at sjstubbs19@gmail.com)

Monday, August 23, 2010

Vineyard Visit on a Sunday

Yesterday was one of those glorious, crisp and sunny Winter's days that makes you feel happy to be alive and also promises that Spring is not too far away. So, in order to celebrate this Mr SE and I struck out of the City of Melbourne into the countryside on a mini road trip. We drove for around an hour and a half or so towards the Bunyip State Park and early afternoon I spied a sign saying turn off next left for Vineyard! We bumped down a track for around 8 kms and then came to this very welcoming and promising notice! Wine - tick. Wood fired pizza - tick. Art gallery - tick.





This was were we had come. Jinks Creek Winery. Seems to me that we had stumbled across quite a find. The car park (such as it was - just a rather rough field) was full and when we opened the door to the rustic barn in the photo below it was




loud; packed full of people either standing up chatting or sitting down together in large parties laughing and drinking and eating and having fun! What a find..... Only problem seemed would they be able to fit us in - I am sure they are booked up well in advance... Whilst we were waiting I had a quick look in the Art gallery just off the main room/dining room.








A gorgeous room full of light with dark wooden floors and white walls.





This was the view behind the counter - love all those stacked plates in subtle, muted colours. Perfection.















A view of the busy dining room.... It is difficult to describe just how much I LOVED this place. It was slightly chaotic, unpretentious and the furniture was worn and painted - all my kind of favourite things. I am still smiling to myself as I am writing this remembering yesterday. I think the man in the blue shirt standing in the middle of the photo is the owner.








See what I mean? Just look at this lovely table. The cutlery was kept in the boxes on the table.










Open fires....
And this was where they found a little spot to put us. On a squishy leather sofa next to the fire sitting at a low table. We did not mind and quickly ordered. A glass of Pinot Noir for me and water for us both (sorry, Mr SE you were the designated driver!).































Our delicious food. Simple but fantastic. Woodfired Margarita pizza and a salad of rocket and toasted pine nuts.... Yummy.










Afterwards we went for a stroll around the outside. See all the vines behind Mr SE - looking rather bare at the moment (the vines not him!) - not long before Spring though.












Then I can imagine coming back to this place and sitting outside on the deck and having lunch at this GORGEOUS, scrumptious table. What a view.




It was hard to leave the Vineyard but we went on through the Bunyip State Park seeing views like the one below at every corner we turned.


















Through the forest....









And then a quick look at the reservoir which serves the City of Melbourne. Thank goodness water levels have risen over the last 6 months. At one point Melbourne's water supply was dwindling fast such was the lack of rain in the state.



Then home again. I did have a little sleep on the way back I have to admit. Must have been that glass of red !

A perfect day!
P.S. More excitement. I have just checked the website (see the link above) and they also do Bed and Breakfast - now how wonderful would that be ? We are DEFINITELY going back.


















12 comments:

  1. I want to get mawwied there! Haha... Glad you had a lovely day xx

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  2. That's exactly WHAT I was thinking when I was there - a perfect laid back place to get "mawwied" Miss P - would fit right in with "country flowers just picked from the fields bouquets" styleeee!!Ha ha! You HAVE to go there though... xx

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  3. hi sarah,

    what a place! thank you so much for sharing it. i realize just how much i love seeing posts like this from the other side of the world. places i will probably never see in person but you bring them right to my sofa. that pizza looks divine with the salad and red wine. and that romantic hubby of yours isn't looking too bad either!

    ~janet

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  4. BLISS OUT!! What a place! Is it somewhere that is so stylish in such an apparently effortless, natural, unpretentious way that makes it so attractive? Something about not seeming to try too hard yet having a shedload of character? If I was ever to do wedding flowers it would be at a place like that!

    Your post plus cup of trusty Earl Grey = great start to my week!

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  5. Aaaah, thank you Belinda - glad you enjoyed it and thank you for your comments and for visiting the blog - welcome! X

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  6. Oh and forgot to say ...Janet - you have made Mr SE's day...! x

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  7. What a day Sarah...this looks absolutely fantastic!
    I can taste the wood fired pizza along with that dreamy looking red wine all the while taking in that deep wonderful scent of a wood fire.

    Can you tell I am ready for cooler weather???

    Jeanne:)

    PS..Mr.SE is pretty dreamy too :):)

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  8. Wine, pizza, art AND B&B? What an amazing find.
    Can I join the Mr SE fan club too? :)

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  9. Jeanne and Struggler - He's going to get too big headed ;-) (!) but he's loving the attention, and it is a while since he featured on the blog .... x

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  10. What fun it must be for you two to be able to take those small weekend trips, just you two ; )

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  11. Wow it looks fantastic - art, wine and pizzas the perfect combination! The food looks delicious. I bet it's lovely in summer when you can sit outside (though it looks nice & cosy now)

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  12. Looks wonderful,maybe you could take Steve and i there when we come out in December,all the views look amazing.....just the sort of place we would love to go to XXX

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