Theme: Gourmet Food & Wine Day
Best time to Visit: Spring or Summer
Highlights :
- Poachers Pantry Smokehouse and Vineyard
- Clonakilla Winery
- Sweet Pea and Poppy Chocolates
- Beth’s Garden Delights
- Kurrajong Kitchen
Cost : Tastings and purchases are at the guest’s discretion.
Overview – Why This Matters
Looking for a gourmet day trip from Canberra and don’t know where to start? We map out a perfect three-stop itinerary for food and wine lovers.
You will learn the three essential stops for a divine day in Murrumbateman, from a renowned smokehouse to a classic cellar door and an artisan chocolatier.
Best For :
- Caravanners based in Canberra or Yass seeking a day trip.
- Food and wine enthusiasts.
- Couples looking for a civilised, gourmet excursion.
Dearest Gentle Reader
It is with the greatest delight that I recount a most charming excursion to the picturesque hamlet of Murrumbateman – a modest half-hour’s stagecoach journey from our esteemed capital Canberra.
Stop 1: Poachers Pantry Smokehouse and Vineyard
My first call was upon Poachers Pantry Smokehouse and Vineyard a most enchanting establishment where fine dining, a cellar door, and a country farm shoppe coexist amidst gardens of idyllic beauty.
The morning hour was yet young, and as I had recently broken my fast, I most admirably restrained myself from partaking in the complimentary tastings of wine, yet, I could not resist acquiring for a modest luncheon a jar of zucchini relish, and a bottle of smokey barbecue sauce both lovingly crafted in Murrumbateman by Beth’s Garden Delights.
These I paired with Lavosh crackers from Canberra’s Kurrajong Kitchen accompanied by delicate cold cuts of ham and turkey from the smokehouse. A most civilised repast indeed.
Stop 2: Clonakilla Winery Cellar Door
My next destination was the Clonakilla Winery cellar door where I procured a bottle of Ratafia to enjoy during the hour of happy that idled most satisfactorily into dinner and for those who possess a discerning palate for red wine, I can most heartily commend the O’Riada Shiraz, a bold, peppery vintage worthy of any gentlewoman’s cellar. I later found it to be the perfect companion to a boned butterflied leg of lamb stuffed generously with honeyed breadcrumbs.
Stay tuned for Lady Settledown’s Most Worthy Lamb Recipe in What’s Up Downunder eMagazine.
Stop 3: Sweet Pea and Poppy Artisan Chocolates
I concluded my jaunt with a visit to the exquisite Sweet Pea and Poppy Chocolates situated in the Murrumbateman Chocolate Company Studio where the talented chocolatier in residence Miss Yasmin Coe weaves her magic from ethically sourced chocolate.
Her creations, encased in packaging as pretty as a spring posy, adorned with her own dear mother’s floral designs, are nothing short of art. One may also indulge in a scoop of her small batch house made gelato, best enjoyed in the blooming gardens just beyond the shop’s door.
Among her delectable offerings were individual pieces of dark chocolate infused with Clonakilla Muscat, a pink chocolate kissed with Four Winds Rose Gin and A dark chocolate espresso martini.
Thus concluded a most divine day and evening in Murrumbateman, a hidden jewel of indulgence and delight.
One suspects, dear reader, that such pleasures will not remain secret for long…
Lady Settledown
Lady Settledown’s Gourmet Haul Checklist:
Use this list to stock your caravan pantry with the very best of Murrumbateman.
At Poachers Pantry Smokehouse and Vineyard:Delicate cold cuts (e.g., ham and turkey) from the smokehouse.
Zucchini relish from Beth’s Garden Delights.
Smokey barbecue sauce from Beth’s Garden Delights).
Lavosh crackers from Kurrajong Kitchen.
At Clonakilla Winery Cellar Door:
A bottle of Ratafia (for a most civilised happy hour).
A bottle of O’Riada Shiraz (the perfect companion for lamb).
A box of artisan chocolates (like the Clonakilla Muscat or Four Winds Rose Gin).
A scoop of house-made gelato (to be enjoyed in the gardens).
Nearby ‘Stables’ (approx. 20-25 min drive):
- Yass Valley Caravan Park Drive time: ~22 minutes Conveniently located in Yass, this is one of your closest options and a great base for exploring the wider Yass Valley.
- Joe O’Connor Park, Yass Drive time: ~22 minutes Also in Yass, this is an excellent option for fully self-contained vehicles, offering a 48-hour free stay by the river.
