September 2011 - VIAGM
August is VIAGM time in the Garden Group (our Very Important Annual General Meeting), the only “meeting” we have all year.
This year for a change, instead of holding it at one of our gardens, we went to the Lyrebird Ridge Organic Winery – a great idea!
This winery is on 40 acres at 270 Budgong Road, Budgong and about 500 metres in from the road along a quiet dirt laneway, really making the visitors feel as if they are in the depths of the country (even though it is apparently only about 20 minutes from Nowra).
Firstly we listened to a very informative talk by Anne Edmistone, one of the owners.
All their wines are certified organic, chemical free grapes and preservative free wines.
The whole process is performed on their property: from the growing of the chambourcin vines to the making of the wine and then the individual bottling, hand waxing of the necks and corks and pasting of the labels.
This is extremely labour intensive and as they do all the work themselves their output is limited and only sold from their cellar.
Then we tasted their 2007 and 2010 vintages and their delicious brandy port while wandering around the beautiful cellar and tasting other local produce from their cheese plates.
After a lunch in the gardens we wandered around their vines, watching their chickens keep the bugs at bay and the baby lambs gambol exactly as they are supposed to do.
The website for the winery is: www.lyrebirdridgewinery.com.au
They are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am-5 pm or by appointment.
Lee Sharam