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Review of Swan Valley Indulgence Day Tour

Swan Valley Indulgence Day Tour - the name says it all really, indulgent it was! It started with a 10.30 am pick up from the Perth Tourist Coach Stand. After picking up the rest of the group from other parts of the CBD, we were on our way. As we made our way through the Village heritage precinct of historic Guildford, I felt like I'd stepped back in time. It is the oldest settlement in Perth after all, and most of the buildings have not changed appearance since they were built due to heritage listing. The bus driver provided a commentary with some facts that the tourists and even I as a local found interesting.

The first stop was Lilac Hill Estate Winery which is a small family owned boutique winery. Some might argue that it was too early in the day for wine tastings but they actually went down quite well. We started with the whites and they were chilled perfectly - nice and cold - just the way I like them. Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, Cape White, White Zinfandel through to the very sweet Late Picked Frontignan - there was something to suit everyone's palate. As a lover of drier wines rather than sweet, my favourite was the Cape White or White Zinfadel which had a lovely pink colour as a result of red grapes being used (but this doesn't mean that it's a rose). Next it was onto the reds - Cabernet Merlot, Merlot/Cabernet, Merlot, and Shiraz - which were all very smooth and easy to drink. Even some of tourists who said they don't normally like reds even enjoyed them. The tawny port perfectly finished off this tasting. Yummy local olive oils and dukkah were also provided with bite size bread pieces to cleanse the palate in between wines.

After a quick stop at Sandalford Winery to pick up the cruise guests, we continued with our now larger group to Garbin Estate Wines. This is another family owned and operated boutique winery - established in 1956 by the Garbin family as the name suggests. The doors to the cellar door are actually made from 600 year old wood and are quite striking. The tastings continued here with the owner and winemaker guiding us through. He was of course very knowledgeable about his wines and I left feeling more informed about the winemaking process and the characteristics of each wine.

Next it was lunch time, and after all that wine I felt like I needed to get some food into my stomach. We enjoyed a nice walk through the vineyards to Jane Brook Wines. Upon arriving, we chose between glasses of white or pink sparkling wine to drink with our lunch. I chose the pink which was lovely. Now it was time to sit down at the table, where we received loaves of lovely fresh warm crusty bread and gourmet platters to share between two. The platters included cold meats, cheese, salads and vegetables, olives, fruit, and a sundried tomato and cream cheese pâté that acted as a delicious spread for the bread. It was a tasty and filling lunch in a relaxed atmosphere and the glass of sparkling was the perfect accompaniment. Then, with our bellies full it was time for more wine tasting of course. If it wasn't for the food I would have been pretty tipsy at this stage. Here I enjoyed the Sauvignon Blanc - Semillon and the Rose.

Now it was time for the stop that all the sweet tooths like me couldn't wait for - The Margaret River Chocolate Factory! Here we could choose a truffle to eat - I chose the new addition, the banana truffle and it was scrumptious. Their milk, white and dark chocolate was also available for tasting in the form of those lovely little choc buds that just melt in your mouth. We were then free to roam and browse through the products and decide which goodies we'd like to take home.

Another winery was next on the agenda - Charlies Estate Wines. Here we were treated to more white and red wine tastings, as well as their yummy nougat. We were then able to enjoy the lovely garden and outdoor area.

Our fifth and final winery was Edgecombe Brothers Winery and Cafe. Since 1925, the Edgecombe family has grown and sold quality fresh produce along with a range of table wines. We were able to enjoy these wines in a cosy environment with warm hospitality. The cheese plates provided were delicious and perfectly complemented the wines. The dessert wines were particularly a favourite amongst everyone. The Muscat wine is made from very sweet Muscat grapes picked at semi raisin stage and matured in oak casks. We were lucky enough to also taste their Muscat ice cream with this drizzled over the top - it really was a taste sensation. The Liqueur Shiraz that followed was my personal favourite being a lover of port. It is aged in excess of 25 years before being bottled, the result - a lovely amber colour and a delight to drink.

That was the last of the wineries but not the end of the indulgence... Our final stop was Elmar's in the Valley for some beer which I found a very refreshing way to finish off the day. Elmar's beers are brewed to exacting old world standards - using only the freshest ingredients imported directly from Germany. And, because it is not filtered it retains all the natural proteins and yeast, in fact the whole vitamin B group is still retained. The result is a healthier and fresher beer and you can taste the difference. I went for the Ein Stein Pilsner and this was accompanied by yet more food to pick at. This time it was 'beer food' - sausages, corn chips, and cubes of cheese. It was a nice wind down to the day.

It was then time to be returned to Perth CBD at about 5.30pm. On the bus trip home I felt full and sleepy - as one often does after indulging on food and alcohol the whole day. The tour fitted a lot into it but it wasn't rushed at all, it was still relaxing, pleasant and enjoyable. It's a great day out for tourists from overseas or interstate, but also for locals who want to escape the city for a day of indulgence without having to travel too far. You'll also more than likely have a great sleep that night, I did.

Swan Valley Indulgence Day Tour by Coach

Highlights include:

• 5 Wineries
• Boutique Brewery
• Gourmet platter lunch with a glass of bubbly
• Cheeseboard
• Nougat tasting
• Chocolate tasting and truffle

PRICE: $80 per person (includes GST).

VENUE: Swan Valley.

DURATION: 10:30am to 5:30pm.

VALID FOR: 1 person. Group size is unlimited.

RESTRICTIONS: Persons must be 18 years or over to consume alcoholic tastings.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Pick up points are Perth, Burswood, Guildford or Swan Valley. Arrangements can be made with recipients at time of booking.

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