UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ST ANDREWS

The Baldessin Press is a not for profit association which is financially independent, relying on revenue generated from workshops, access fees, and a great deal of voluntary labour and goodwill.

We offer inspiring workshops and opportunities to anyone wanting to explore their creative journey in a tranquil location. Workshops are open to anyone, from beginners on. By limiting the workshop numbers each participant is catered for at his/her personal level in a friendly and relaxed working atmosphere.

Twice yearly the studio is open to the public as part of the "Nillumbik Artist Open Studio Program", in May & November. See News & Events for details.

Shantell Vineyard is a small vineyard and winery situated in a picturesque hillside setting at Dixons Creek, just 60 kilometres from the heart of Melbourne. Visitors are very welcome to Shantell Vineyard's modern restaurant and tasting facilities. The combination of good food, good wines and exceptional views makes sitting down for a meal almost irresistible. The outlook is stunning and the Aboriginal art collection on display on the dining room and cellar door quite unique. 'Hidden away in a lovely quiet little area among the gum trees and foothills at the northern end of the Yarra Valley, Shantell is a great place to visit. The relaxing pastel-coloured cellar door and friendly restaurant have picture windows that invite the outside in as though you are sitting among the vines, and you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere outside in warm weather. Shantell's wines are very good too, offering consistency and high quality at fair prices. A winery worth a detour.' Ralph Kyte-Powell Established: 1980 Wine Region: Yarra Valley Winemakers: Turid and Shan Shanmugam Owners: Turid and Shan Shanmugam Cellar Door Manager - Turid Shanmugam Open: 10.30am-5pm daily Wines: Sparkling, Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Price: $15.00-$35.00 Food: Modern Australian with food designed to complement the wines. Functions: Up to 38 people.

The Fergusson Winery & Restaurant lies among rising hills at the northern end of the Yarra Valley. The estate has been in the same family for more than 30 years and Louise Fergusson has kept to the tradition of wining and dining in her own welcoming style. Using the finest and freshest produce the Yarra Valley has to offer, internationally trained master chef Louise Fergusson has created a diverse, provincial menu. Enjoy sensational cuisine with some of the valley's most exceptional wines. The solid timber restaurant, with its warm, Australian atmosphere, can seat up to 180 guests. The rows of gnarled vines that are a feature of the estate are some of the districts oldest. The vineyard is planted out to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasting and cellar door sales of these outstanding wines are available. The storybook chapel is tucked away among grapevines in relaxed, rural setting. Combine gourmet delights with premium wines to celebrate, and these elements make Fergusson a stunning setting for a wedding and reception. Fergusson specialise in making a wedding day perfect. 'Planted in the early days of the Yarra renaissance of the 1970s and '80s, Fergusson Winery and Restaurant remains a welcoming destination with a pleasantly unpretentious feel. There are lots of attractions at this pretty valley winery: water hens and ducks wander the vineyards, there's a restaurant where spit-roasts are a speciality, plus a wedding chapel, conference facilities, accommodation, store and cellar door promoting some excellent regional wines. Reds are a real strength here, especially Shiraz, but general wine quality is high.' Ralph Kyte-Powell

Only 65 km north of Melbourne, Kinglake National Park lies on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, offering dramatic views of the Melbourne skyline, Port Phillip Bay, the Yarra Valley and across to the You Yangs. This is a good spot, not far from Melbourne, to go camping, enjoy a bushwalk or have a picnic. Nature revival Since the intense 2009 fires in Kinglake National Park, many plants adapted to fire are flourishing. In spring, keep an eye out for wildflowers in bloom, while winter is a good time to discover fungi, mosses and lichens. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Allinda Winery crafts elegant and characterful wines that are made from fruit of outstanding calibre grown using biological farming practices. Range includes stylish, refined examples of regional heroes such as Chardonnay and Cabernet. As well as innovative, creative wines like Podium, a sparkling Riesling; Alba Toro, new variety from Spain; and Double Picked Riesling - a fortified "white port" style. Established in 1990. The rustic cellar door is constructed of timber recycled from an 1886 wool store and offers stunning views, overlooking several vineyards. Tastings are very personal and informative. Blending tradition and technology to produce wines of distinction.

Sutherland Estate has one of the most spectacular vineyard sites in Australia. On high ground at the southern edge of the Great Divide, the cathedral ceiling cellar door and large outside deck command impressive views down the Yarra Valley and far into the distance. Birdsongs fill the air, and the highway seems far away. Cheese platters are available to accompany the estate wines that are headed by a very good Chardonnay. The Spanish origin Tempranillo planted, a rarity in the district, shows great promise.' RALPH KYTE-POWELL Sutherland Estate is a family-owned, boutique enterprise in the heart of the premium, cool climate wine growing region of the Yarra Valley. Most vineyard management is carried out by hand to ensure the highest quality fruit. This includes hand pruning, bunch thinning, leaf plucking and early morning hand-picking. The cool climate of the site (and the Yarra in general) provides a longer than usual ripening season, which in turn produces wines of varietal intensity, together with complexity and elegance. Varieties planted include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, with small parcels of Gewurztraminer and Tempranillo. The wines have received immediate acclaim with the first entry into James Halliday's 2005 Wine Companion. The cellar door is a relaxing, wonderful place to enjoy a glass of wine and a platter of Yarra Valley cheeses. Built onto the side of Daniel's Hill on the northern side of the property, it enjoys panoramic views across the Yarra Valley to the Dandenong's and Warburton Ranges. The cellar door is a large, graceful room with an 11m vaulted ceiling, rising to a stunning glass prism. The huge windows take advantage of the Valley's views as does the spacious wooden deck. A large, open fire warms in winter. The cellar door is available for your exclusive, private function.

De Bortoli Wines was established in the Riverina region of New South Wales in 1928, four years after the founder, Vittorio De Bortoli and his wife Giuseppina migrated to Australia from Northern Italy. Now one of Australia's largest family-owned wine companies and a proud member of Australia's First Families of Wine, De Bortoli have embraced a culture of sharing good wine, good food and good times with family and friends for more than 80 years. In 1987 Leanne De Bortoli and her husband, De Bortoli Chief Winemaker, Steve Webber, established the Yarra Valley winery and restaurant. The vision for the Yarra Valley Estate was to produce high quality cool climate wines which express the best the Yarra Valley wine region has to offer. The De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate has gone from strength to strength, winning numerous international and national awards as well as offering an ever-changing indulgent experience for its visitors. Facilities and services offered on site: - Wine Tastings - Cheese Room, including wine and cheese matching - Contemporary Italian style restaurant catering up to 100 guests - Wedding and function facilities - Home delivery of wine within Australia and overseas - Ample car and bus parking (including disabled parking) - Landscaped gardens with picnic facilities and children's playground - Located only one hour from Melbourne, De Bortoli Winery and Restaurant is well worth a visit

Lots of new vineyard planting has taken place north of Yarra Glen in recent years and standards have varied, but some new establishments feel built to last from the start. Mandala is one of them. Cutting edge architecture impresses from the highway and the stylish, quality feel of things is backed up by a professional, contemporary restaurant and cellar door. Lots of glass brings the manicured lawns and vineyards inside, and charming photos of country life add atmosphere. Mandala's wines are already first class, especially the Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, both full of character.' Ralph Kyte-Powell Located in the picturesque Yarra Valley, Mandala Wines crafts wines with character and finesse and are designed to be enjoyed with good food in great company. With established 22 year old vines, the two family-owned and run vineyards produce varietals that excel in this region. The Cellar Door and restaurant are the heart of the Dixon's Creek property. Drop by for a tasting with the experienced and friendly cellar door staff. All current release, estate range wines are available to taste every day and on the weekends, the single site wines join the list. Neil Cunningham joined the Mandala team as head chef in late 2010. He is well known in the region for his time at the Healesville Hotel where he was awarded a Chef's Hat in two consecutive years. Neil brings a 'nose-to-tail' cooking philosophy to Mandala's ever evolving menu, which focuses on locally sourced, seasonal produce. Mandala offers a sumptuous Yarra Valley experience with wines that are true to the region and a delicious menu that sources fresh produce from the surrounding area. They capture the delights of the Valley and are waiting for you to stop by and indulge in some of life's simple pleasures.

Wine Compass offers private wine tours of the Yarra Valley’s best vineyards, which are fully customisable and flexible to meet your requirements. From the very first consultation, we aim to do everything possible to make the experience truly unforgettable. We have no affiliations with specific wineries, meaning we can make the wine tour exactly what you want it to be.