Cannibal Creek

A real farm atmosphere just off the highway not far out of Melbourne and well worth the visit. Gippsland tends to display a more genuinely rural feel than Mornington Peninsula or Yarra Valley with native bush always within a few metres and distant views looking out to more. The downside is that wineries and other places to visit are disparate and travel distances large but this makes for a nice day out if you like greater seclusion. You feel as if you've really gotten away from the buzz of the city. Into the cellar door and the enthusiastic owner shows off her range with the wine vats clearly in view. And the range is good. A light and lovely Sav Blanc that varies year to year and a reasonably well balanced Chardonnay. There are three reds; Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cab Sav and surprisingly the Merlot is the heaviest and an excellent example of this often unpleasant, or at least unexciting grape. The other two are good too with the Cab Sav showing distinct cool climate qualities if you like that sort of thing and the Pinot of medium weight and length. You'll feel happy when you leave and walk back out into nature. Bunyip State Forest is a little further up the road if you feel like a walk or a lie down in the grass.