If you ever find yourself with a few hours to kill before flying back to Sydney from Melbourne Airport, then Marnong Estate is a name that should be on your radar, writes travel editor Winsor Dobbin.
Just a short drive from Tullamarine, Marnong is a popular destination for Melbourne wine and food lovers. It is also a delightful destination for anyone who might enjoy a day or two away in the vineyards.
Owner Dino Strano is not a man to do things by halves. The builder and developer has already invested heavily – and has big plans in the pipeline for his property at Sunbury, just a hop, skip and jump from Melbourne Airport. Following on from highly credentialed consultants, talented Alex Beckett leads the winemaking team and Shannon Fullerton is chief viticulturist.
“When Dino embarked on this project, he knew it would be ambitious,” Beckett (below) says. “He has always taken the approach of seeking out talented and knowledgeable individuals to ensure that everything is done in the right way.”
There is upmarket villa accommodation – with an 80-room international standard hotel in the planning stage – along with two impressive on-site eateries: Cucina 3064 and the hatted La Vètta. Both are Italian accented, appropriate given the Strano family originally came from Sicily.
It is no wonder Marnong has quickly become popular with Melburnian wine and food lovers, as well as proving a busy wedding and function venue. There is bright, breezy, and fun ambience here.
And if you have younger family members with you, they can enjoy the gardens and the on-site petting zoo. One of Marnong’s major drawcards is its location. It is situated just 35 minutes north of Melbourne CBD in the heart of the Sunbury wine region. It has views that stretch to the Macedon Ranges.
The 480-hectare estate is also a working farm with Angus and Highland cattle grazing contentedly.
There is an original 19th century homestead along with the cellar door, eateries, and function spaces.
Marnong now has close to 32 hectares of vines planted to varieties ranging from cool-climate specialities in chardonnay and pinot noir, to pinot grigio, montepulciano, fiano and sangiovese. The first plantings were in 2016.
On a recent hosted visit I was very impressed not only by the wines made by ex-Briar Ridge winemaker Beckett, but also the food and tourism offerings.
The architecturally designed lodgings give comfort and tranquillity, with studios starting from $279 per night and one-bedroom suites from $324. Beckett was lured from the Hunter Valley by a $22 million state-of-the-art winery facility that is hugely impressive.
Good news for wine lovers: bottle prices start at a very reasonable $25 for the estate range and $35 for single vineyard wines. More expensive drops are on the way.
See www.marnongestate.com.au. # The writer was hosted by Marnong Estate
—
Rocking and Rolling
Keen to start the New Year with a bang?
From Wednesday to Sunday January 7-11, over 25,000 Elvis enthusiasts will make the annual pilgrimage to Parkes In western NSW, making it the largest congregation of Elvis fans in the southern hemisphere and the official hometown of Elvis in Australia.
Now in its 33rd year, the Festival will pay tribute to Elvis with a Love Me Tender theme, offering fans a program featuring hundreds of events, including the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist (UETA) Competition, Evolution Mining Street Parade, NSW TrainLink Elvis Express, Disco Inferno 2026 Wall of Fame Concert, and performances on the Cooke Park Main Stage and Memphis Stage.
The event started as a small get-together of like-minded Elvis fans in 1993, but the festival has grown today into an internationally renowned phenomenon, recognised as one of the top music events in Australia and attracting fans from all over the globe.
For details see www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au
—
New hotspot
The rapidly growing Central Coast region will welcome a new hotel and lifestyle precinct this summer.
voco Gosford & The Archibald Precinct will make its official debut on December 1, featuring the Central Coast’s highest rooftop bar and ballroom.
At the centre of it all is Astra, the rooftop bar and Japanese dining concept perched on Level 28 that is being promoted as the region’s new destination for sky-high cocktails and fire-driven dining.
voco Gosford, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium portfolio, will add a new vibe to the heart of Gosford. The hotel’s 130 guest rooms draw inspiration from the surrounding landscape as well as voco’s three brand hallmarks of ‘Come on in’, ‘Me time’ and ‘voco life’.
I’m told “each guest room has vibrantly playful interiors that include plush sustainable bedding, modern bathrooms and sweeping views across the city or bay, with most opening out to private balconies”.
Among the highlights are a podium-level swimming pool with a swim-up bar, an on-site wellness centre and six dining and bar experiences.
As part of The Archibald Precinct, family-friendly watering hole Archies will be home to two dining experiences: Ironbark Kitchen with modern Australian cuisine and pub grub, and Paolo’s with hand-rolled pasta, trattoria-style dishes, and wood-fired pizza.
The jewel in the crown will be Astra, the Central Coast’s highest rooftop bar and Japanese inspired izakaya.
At the heart of the experience will be the hibachi grill, using premium binchōtan charcoal to sear meats and seafood before they are finished in a charcoal oven.
Bookings for the hotel and restaurants open from November 12, ahead of the official launch on December 1.
voco Gosford joins a growing collection of over 107 voco hotels globally, including six in Australia and New Zealand.
For bookings, and more info see https://thearchibald.com.au/
See more of Winsor’s travel tips at www.gourmetontheroad.com.