When it comes to wineries Michael and Wendy O’Dea at Dionysus winery are the one stop shop. The grapes are grown by them, the wine made by Michael and the cellar door is operated by them. Michael follows traditional methods of winemaking with all grapes basket pressed, delicately crafted and hand bottled and labelled onsite. They offer a different cellar door with a self paced wine tasting experience. We were told that this was an outcome of the latest restrictions with Covid-19 and we think it works a treat.
The wines, with the exception of the sparkling Pinot Noir / Chardonnay are served in small test tubes and supplied with tasting notes from both Michael and Wendy. Michael’s are very traditional, however Wendy’s are a little less serious but maybe more correct for some. Wendy’s tasting notes for Sauvignon Blanc is a case in point; “This savvy B is great to give to that person to get them to nod off to sleep. With an easy drinking style and lots of fruitiness it goes down quickly and will get the eyelids drooping within an hour. Match with party pies or sausage rolls.”
A stand out for us was the CB young Reserve Shiraz only produced when the harvest dictates and is aged in French oak. A medium bodied Shiraz but still jammy and some spice to finish.
A short drive or slightly longer cycle from the big smoke that is Murrumbateman.
Backroad Odyssey 