20th Dec - Swan Valley Wine Trail

Today, it's all about me!!  My Darl is the designated driver and I am the wine taster.   We set off to Guildford the gateway to the Swan Valley wine trail.  After visiting the info centre at Guildford we decided to take one of the 4 walking heritage trails on offer.  The Captain Stirling Walk 2250 metres, meandering through the leafy, quiet streets of Guildford, past the Rose and Crown Hotel (built in 1841, oldest operating hotel in WA and most expensive $19 beer and CC!), Padburys store, Guildford Grammer School, Chapel and cemetery plus more.

Padbury Store

This was interesting story of young boy come out with his father back in the mid 1800's.  His dad died after 1 year, leaving this chap a 10 year old orphan, but from their Walter Padbury worked and built his little empire.  Starting out as a shepherd to save for a house and ending up owning several stores, considerable rurual and pastoral real estate and a small fleet of sailing ships.  And he become the first Mayor of Guildford.

The Chapel and cemetry in the Guilford Grammar school grounds

First stop on the wine trail was the Sandalford Winery, a very modern establishment, a bit like the Sirromet winery of Mt Cotton.   The walls are lined with posters of artists who have performed over the years "Day on the Green" from Marcia, to Sting, Tom Jones, Michael Buble, John Mellancamp and heaps others, Seal is booked for Feb next year.

Yep, this is Ling country!

My first tasting for the day and looking tidy!

One tasting and I was off frolicking in the vines........

From Sandalford to Lancaster (aka the Tasting Shed), Little River Winery, Black Swan - bite of lunch by the side of the road.  Then onto Edgecombe Brothers where I did all the damage.....   Young Lewis was a gun, I think the tub of ice cream with the muscatel got me!   Yummo!  16 bottles wine later (incl 4 freebies), thanks for coming!  That's my stash for Xmas/New Year and beyond done....

Ling looking happy and Lewis is too just quietly.....

After Twin Hills (Darl got his 2 ltr port plus chilli marinated feta), family owned and run for over 70 years,  Darl decided it was time to call it a day, I was having so much fun!  But one last stop well worth doing was to Houghtons (175 yrs old)  

No my Darl is not holding me up/steady.......ok maybe just a little

Check the booty, yep my Darl was happy with his $15 2 litre bottle of port, apparently you can't call it that anymore.  The Portugals don't like it!  So it is fortified shiraz or whatever else they think to call it.  Swan Valley Wine and Food trail is a must not only wine but cheeses, olives, honey, arts/crafts, micro brewerys, coffee, nougat, lavender all on offer and it is so close to city, just a 5 minute drive from where we are staying......