If you ever find yourself with a few hours to kill before flying out of from Melbourne Airport, then Marnong Estate is a name that should be on your radar, writes Winsor Dobbin.
Just a short drive from Tullamarine, Marnong is a popular destination for Melbourne wine and food lovers.
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 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.
# Winsor Dobbin was hosted by Marnong Estate
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