Cellar door like no other
Tucked away down a side street in leafy Healesville is a very unobtrusive restaurant known as Graceburn Wine room. I am fairly local to the area and I had no idea it was there until quite recently, but this restaurant will be no news to lovers of Mac Forbes wines.
Mac Forbes created his urban cellar door come wine bar with a view of sharing both some of his own wines, as well as a selection from many of the producers he respects from around the Yarra Valley and the world.
The restaurant is a great excuse to take a drive, less than 90 minutes from the heart of Melbourne, and treat yourself to some delicious food and wine.
The restaurant is small, seating only about 30 diners, but packs a huge punch with flavourful food and delicious wines. The staff are hugely knowledgeable and will talk you through a wine tasting session, giving you hints, information about where the wine comes from and how it is made. They are also very helpful when it comes to pairing wine with your meal.
Our table of four ordered a variety of meals including Oysters with a Riesling Granita which were icy cold and a huge treat, especially on the very warm day that we were there.
The menu changes weekly, but you can expect delicacies such as Pork Belly with Cherries and Seeded Mustard, Bug Tails with Kombu Butter and Lime, and Mackerel with Ginger and White Kimchi.
You can taste the current releases of Mac’s wines, as well as many of the 150+ wines Mac has made since 2005, on their Museum wine list.
Also available are a number of wines from other producers, both within Australia and Australia, which are featured on the Friends wine list.
Each Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday’s for lunch, the cellar door transforms into Graceburn Bistro, but wine sales, tastings and delicious bar snacks continue outside of these times.
The Mac Forbes winery is located at 770 Healesville Koo Wee Rup Rd, Healesville VIC 3777
Graceburn Wine Room is located at 11a Green Street, Healesville 3777
Bookings are highly recommended.
