ATTRACTION LAURISTON

The Kyneton Museum is located in the lovely town of Kyneton, just an hour North of Melbourne. The Museum Collection is housed in a beautiful bluestone building recognised by the National Trust and designed by architect Andrea Stumbucco who was responsible for many beautiful buildings in the Gold Rush era. The building was designed as the first Bank of New South Wales but in order to meet the banking needs of a fast changing population it made its way to the central Victorian Goldfields. The latest exhibition showing at the Kyneton Museum is 'We Saw the Queen' a touring exhibition from the Public Record Office Victoria. The exhibition draws on their records to mark the 2013 Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and is complemented with objects from the Kyneton Museum collection. Many of the stories in the exhibition relate to the 1954 Royal Visit which was the first to Australia by a reigning monarch. Don't forget that the rest of the Museum is open as normal, so come in and enjoy wandering around the gardens and taking in the outside displays. Keep up to date with cultural events and what's on in Kyneton check out their new Facebook page, Macedon Ranges Arts and Culture. You can even win a free family pass with their 'guess the Mystery Object'.

Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery and Cellar door is family owned by Pauline Russell and John Boucher. John is the winemaker and his family has a long tradition of wine making going back to his great grandfather. Fine food is a major feature at Kyneton Ridge with gourmet delight platters, pizzas and coffee served all weekend, with seating for up to 50 people by open fire in winter or under the sails on the deck in warmer weather. Air conditioning provided in the cellar door dining room. Taste or buy wines from other wine list featuring Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and classy Macedon Sparkling. The Bed and Breakfast country retreat combines elegance and classic country living in a striking blend of luxury and informality. The impeccable style is set from the moment you first enter the sandstone house which is filled with the warmth of crackling log fires in the cooler winter months. Flanked by grapevines and rose gardens, the luxury bed and breakfast offers privacy and unparalleled panoramas. The Kyneton Ridge Estate Bed and Breakfast guest wing is ideal for that special get away or can accommodate a small group of three couples. All bookings include a splendid home cooked hot country breakfast.

Zig Zag Rd Vineyard was planted in 1972 the third one in Macedon Ranges. It is an unirrigated vineyard of 10 acres with plantings of Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

The vines are all hand pruned and the reds are made using open fermenters' and a small basket press. All work is done by the owners and their friends.

The wines produced are Riesling, Cabernet Rose, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Sparkling Shiraz and most recently a Sparkling Blanc de Noir.

The cellar door is open from Thursday to Monday where you will be met by one of the family. Tasting is free and groups are welcome. A range of platters is available at the Cellar Door. Groups of more than four need to book.

Birthday Villa is a boutique vineyard at Malmsbury in the Macedon Ranges Wine Region. The name comes from the 19th Century Queens Birthday Mine at nearby Drummond, discovered on Queen Victoria's birthday.

The vineyard has views of the historical Malmsbury Viaduct and is only two minutes walk from the Malmsbury station. One and a half hectares of Gewurztraminer vines were planted in 1968 and another half a hectare of Cabernet Sauvignon following at a later date. The Thomas family concentrate on growing quality fruit nurtured by intensive viticulture practises, producing small batches of high quality wine. The wine is made only from estate grown fruit by wine maker Greg Dedman at Bendigo Tafe.

Birthday Villa wines are marketed mostly in Victoria mainly at the Cellar Door in Malmsbury. In the 2007 and 2008 editions of James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, Birthday Villa wines received four and a half glass ratings for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewurztraminer wines.

The Gewurztraminer Auslese is a subtle dessert wine which won the Peoples Choice Trophy at the Daylesford wine show 2008. The Cellar Door is open on weekends.

Chanters Ridge is a boutique, family owned and operated vineyard established in 1996 in the Macedon Ranges Wine Region, 45 minutes drive north from Melbourne.

From this cool climate vineyard Glenys and Barry Elliott produce premium Pinot Noir, both still and sparkling and their sparkling Macedon white.

Grapes are picked by hand in late April to early May. With their wine maker John Ellis at Hanging Rock, they strive to achieve varietal characteristics of nose and palate using open vat whole bunch fermentation, the maturation in 30 per cent new French and older oak barrels.

Their newer planting, "Back Paddock" are two years younger than the original vines. Chanters Ridge "Back Paddock" Pinot Noir 2003 won a gold medal and the trophy for Best Pinot Noir at the Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition 2005.

The 2003 Pinot Noir a silver in both 2005 and 2006 and the 2004 "Back Paddock" a silver at the 2006 Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition with James Halliday being the senior judge.

Their 2005 wines are showing great promise having recently been bottled, but will not be released for about 18 months. The views of the surrounding countryside from the vineyard are fantastic and the one hectare garden worth a wander through particularly in spring and early summer.