Clare 16 - 17 November 2013

After giving Port Augusta a final once over it was off in search of Clare and for something completely different, wineries. We managed to Resist the strong magnetic pull towards Quorn again and pushed on to Gulnare where my paternal Grandmother grew up - couldn't find the old tin house this time though (suspect it has been clad in fake vinyl weatherboards now). A lap of the old town took all of two minutes, which were packed full of nostalgic thoughts, and it was onwards to Clare.
We have never been to Clare before, and it was quite surprising. For an important wine area, the grape vines can be a little thin on the ground if you don't go looking for them. Sure there are plenty on the main road and even more in the hills to either side, but they are spread in little patches between wheat fields and gum forests, so it is unlike anything you expect from say, the Barossa, Margaret River, or even Mornington Penninsula. I think that their insistance on continuing to produce what they do best - Riesling - even when it is not a market favourite has led to a more boutique feel to the place, with a lack of acre after acre of sav blanc and chardonnay vines. The wines we tried were fantastic - my fermented grape juice budget is now well and truly blown :(
Cruised out to Mintaro (a heritage listed town nearby) for a beautiful lunch at Reillys winery (that word again..) and then to Martindale Hall which was used as the mansion in the old ozzie flic 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'. This was very special, but left us both thinking that they need to do more with the surrounds to make it even better.