Home Hill Winery & Kate Hill Wines

What could be more Gallic than two couples in their Peugeots touring local vineyards on the first day of Autumn?  Imagine, if you will, one driver's scarlet scarf trailing in the breeze as she pilots her chic convertible, roof down, through the lush green countryside in search of pinot noir and Chardonnay, closely followed by the tres elegant Mme Supérieure Tête de L'essence Moyenne ... . 

Hold on a minute!  Whilst it is true that She of the Scarlet Scarf's fellow Peugeot driver is very stylish, there isn't a beret and stripey tee shirt wearing cyclist in sight - let alone one with onions draped over his handlebars - and both Pugs are driving on the wrong side of the road for France!  Just as well they're actually heading down to Tasmania's Huon Valley, thirty minutes south of Hobart!

This week's expedition features She of the Scarlet Scarf, her friend who's a boy (but is not her boyfriend - AKA the former second best forensic photographer in the state) and the UMPHs, and began with the pleasant drive along the Southern Outlet, up the Huon Highway past Lower Longley, through Grove and into Ranelagh.  It was there, in Ranelagh, that the faux-Frenchies had their first stroke of luck, managing to grab a table for lunch at the very popular Home Hill Winery and Restaurant (38 Nairn Road, Ranelagh - ph: 6264 1200 - homehillwines.com.au). 

Only their mothers can tell them apart

The restaurant is in a beautiful rammed earth building that features an open kitchen and views of the surrounding vineyards and adjacent farms.  It often hosts weddings and concerts, as well as being a highly regarded eatery and wine tasting centre.

Everything on the lunch menu looked good.  However, the F-Fs only managed to sample a couple of the many dishes on offer, with two opting for mains of crispy-skinned ocean trout and the other pair choosing five spice duck breast.  Home Hill has two award winning vintages of reserve pinot noir, both of which were sampled.  Opinion was divided as to which one was better but all agreed that each was excellent. 

    

Crispy-skinned ocean trout 

The duck

A very short distance from Home Hill is the eponymous Kate Hill Wines (101 Glen Road, Huonville - 6223 5641 - katehillwines.com.au), whose Riesling is favoured by Mrs UMPH.  The winery also produces very creditable pinot noirs, a cabernet - merlot and a sparkling pinot noir - chardonnay.  The F-F's visit coincided with a southern Tasmanian open cellar and wine route weekend, meaning that they were fortunate to have the opportunity to sample the wines whilst speaking with Kate herself. 

Never leave a wine tasting empty handed! 

  
Another short drive from Kate Hill Wines is Huonville's own chocolatier, The Cat's Tongue, situated just off Main Road (3/11-13 Wilmot Road - 0428 411 455 - the catstongue.com.au).  Here the F-Fs drank some warming hot chocolates before heading home.  The drinks were well received, as by then the weather had begun to turn.  The cafe also offers a very tempting array of chocolates and pralines, as well as what their own website describe as " ... an offbeat breakfast and lunch menu," whatever that might mean.       

The Cat's Tongue, 3rd from left 

Get more country than that!  The Pug outside the Huonville CWA 

One thing is certain:  the F-Fs are very likely to be touring the Huon Valley again, quite likely soon.  Like so much of Tasmania, it's within comfortable driving distance, there's great food and wine to be had, and the scenery's great!  Au revoir for now.

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au).