Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley
Rochford Wines sprung into life in the Yarra Valley in 2002, when owner and CEO Helmut Konecsny purchased the Hill Road property from the Cowan family. Previously known as the ‘Yarra Vale’ vineyard and then ‘Eyton on Yarra’, the Coldstream site has undergone significant redevelopment under the Rochford banner. Today it hosts a large restaurant and café, cellar door, and retail shop, as well as versatile event and entertainment spaces. Rochford’s is considered a showpiece in the region, and at the heart of the Rochford experience lies its wines.
Now occupying three distinct vineyard sites across the Yarra Valley, Rochford’s wine showcases the diverse terroir of the region. Rochford has invested heavily in vineyard and winery development over the last 5 years and utilises traditional winemaking practices. Their winemaking philosophy centres around letting the fruit speak for itself and there is a focus on growing the best fruit possible and then handling it gently in order to protect its character. Rochford Wines is best known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and it produces wine across three distinct labels: Rochford, Estate, and Single Vineyard.
The range of wines include:
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Sparkling
- Cabernet
- Shiraz
- Merlot
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Pinot Grigio
- Moscato
- Prosecco
- Rose
- Cabernet Franc
- Muscat
- Merlot Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Cellar Door
The main Cellar Door for Rochford Wines is located at the Home Vineyard. Group tastings are available for groups of 10 or more and need to be booked in advance either online or by phone. The Cellar Door can also accommodate smaller group sizes, with no booking necessary. For multilingual and/or international guests, multilingual staff are available for wine tastings to converse in languages other than English.
A tasting session goes for about 30 minutes with 5 different wines offered. These tastings are themed to explore the different iconic styles of the Yarra Valley. A Chardonnay tasting costs $15, Pinot Noir $15, Estate Wine $12, and Single Vineyard $18.
A second cellar door can be located in Toolangi, at Isabella’s Vineyard, and may be found within il Vigneto Pizzeria. For groups, bookings are essential.
Isabella’s Restaurant at Rochford’s focuses on seasonal fare. Combining classic flavours with modern day twists, each dish is created by Head Chef Ryan Frost to maximise fresh and local produce and to complement Rochford’s wine. There is both a casual dining menu and set menu available, catering for a wide range of tastes. The set menu comes with a 2-course option for $60 or 3-course option for $70. Main plates on the casual dining menu range in price from $34 to $65. Share plates for two are also available for up to $94.
Isabella’s allows for a variety of dining experiences. With floor-to-ceiling windows, a view of the winery is guaranteed and sweeping views of the Great Dividing Ranges beyond. A large outdoor terrace offers a unique and relaxed atmosphere, with easy access to the cellar door and gin bar. Bookings are essential throughout the year as the restaurant is quite popular.
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