Wait until tomorrow

Ken came to Bellwether for the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival with Headland a few years ago, still one of my favourite events we have hosted. You instantly feel at ease with Ken, he is a good man with a wicked sense of humour and can not only play guitar, he can tell a story. It’s a rare trait to be able to tell a story that is entertaining and sincere – but Kenny nails it. We hope to get Kenny back to Bellwether for an exhibition of his guitar collection and the stories that go with them……(check out his Instagram account @ braxtonhicks66

He is sometimes described as the mayor of Marrickville so when in Sydney go visit the Petty Cash Café and tell him Sue sent you.

Music as an art form defined by Ken is ‘ethereal, ephemeral and experiential but you can’t see it or touch it, you can hear it but of itself it’s latent until it is felt moving through us….’. Ken says that when playing music he hopes ‘to capture even for a second that elusive feeling of it passing through me, that’s the gift of it’. ‘The music doesn’t belong to me, it’s not a feather in anyone’s cap……’

Listening to music I love (like Jimi Hendrix, Headland and The Cruel Sea) I get what Ken is saying, it is how I feel about wine. I don’t feel ownership or authority, it’s a privilege that is provided to me from the land, the season, the grower and the way things fall out. I have a picture of the style of wine I want to drink, but there are the uncontrollable events that sculpt the final product. I release myself to this mercy and use the accumulated wisdom and naïve freshness of new scenarios to create each unique wine, it is scary and fun. Music brings happiness and creative inspiration my world. I hear a song and it takes me back to a moment in time, like smelling a wine can remind you of your childhood, your grandma’s garden or kitchen. Enjoy our latest playlist (1 hr 20 mins) of these clever musician's music HERE.

Photo's above courtesy of Stephen Jones

Spring has sprung at Bellwether – the garden is amazing, full of familiar aromas that remind me of past Springs and tell me that the world is still turning, the trees and plants and insects don’t see our anxiety of a global pandemic – they just get on with their job, and it brings me joy and comfort to see that. With Spring comes more visitors and glamping bookings – so if you are planning a visit – BOOK AHEAD! For more info click HERE

Great news to see Canberra can now visit Coonawarra (don’t all come at once!), with NSW next week. I’m delighted to see regional Victoria open to each other again. So many good restaurants, wineries and friends doing what they love and one step closer to Melbourne re-opening and the border to Victoria!! I feel like we might need to have a big party….. but maybe smaller catch ups in a thoughtfully spaced campground is more kosher. We are well positioned for those re-unions and have already seen our SA friends come and stay booking personal dinners to take the time to reconnect.

You can book the whole campground for $1200/night (min 2 night stay)

Bellwether ANT series

2018 Heathcote Vermentino; is my gardening wine – it smells of rosemary and fennel flowers, a complex textural palate with a crisp saline finish.

Screaming for an Asparagus with tamarind and lime salad

2016 Heathcote Vermentino

only a few cases left and evidence that this varietal does age, I think it is the skin phenolics, slightly toasty on the nose but still fresh and savoury

– try with silverbeet (rainbow chard) with tomatoes and green olives.

$22.50 $30

Order HERE - Offer ENDS 5th October

Bellwether ANT series

2018 Tasmanian Riesling

Delicate white florals, grapefruit pulp and texture, almost disprin like purity and tight acid finish

– try with Saffron Tagliatelle with ricotta and crispy shallots.

2017 Tasmanian Riesling

Honey suckle nose, diesel euro like nose, textured with a long bracing core of acid

– indulge with a Coconut and turmeric omelette feast.

2018-$22.50 & 2017-$28.50 $30 & $38

Order HERE - Offer ENDS 5th October

Bellwether ANT series

2019 Rosato

Hand picked and whole bunch pressed Nero d’Avola, Barbera with hand picked Pinot Grigio fermented on skins. Crisp, fresh, savoury and dry

– smash this with a sunset and Pasta with roasted butternut in warm yogurt sauce.

$22.50 $30

Order HERE - Offer ENDS 5th October

Bellwether ANT series

19 Wrattonbully Barbera

lifted red fruits, really bright and fresh, almost rhubarb nose, crunchy, succulent and earthy palate

– try with the ultimate tray baked ragu.

$22.50 $30

Order HERE - Offer ENDS 5th October

Bellwether ANT series

2016 Wrattonbully Shiraz/Malbec

Spicy perfumed nose of blueberry and ironstone with an round earthy palate

– Barley, tomato and watercress stew.

$22.50 $30

Order HERE - Offer ENDS 5th October

(Recipes courtesy of Ottelenghi’s new book Flavour).

Ottelenghi is a very clever chef whose balance of acidity and saltiness never ceases to amaze me and he is champion of great vegetable dishes (incidentally all our wines are vegan). To celebrate Spring and the bounty of our garden I have matched the above ones to different dishes from his latest book. I’ve cooked several things already from it, given to me as a gift from a lovely friend.

Any orders over $300 until 5th October -

we will send you a new copy of Ottelenghi’s lastest book Flavour.