Mar 10. Wine, views and picnics

The day started leisurely enough. After a nice breakfast we packed up the car and went into Benalla to pick up a few groceries and other items before heading off to meet the rest of the group.

While in Woolworths grocery store I went to look in the paper isle and what we had been hearing was true. There had been a run on toilet paper and the shelves were empty. Fear of running out with virus coming seems to be the reason. Amazing. 

After coffee and a look around we went north on the highway towards Wangaratta and turned off towards Powers Lookoff Park. This is the King Valley wine region so it seemed right we stop at a Winery. DALZOTTO was the first we came to.

We sampled a number of nice Prosecco and Sangiovese wines. One of the Prosecco was unfiltered. We bought a couple of bottles.

Our next stop was the Powers Lookoff park where we met the others and had a picnic.

This park was the hideout of one of the regions famous Bush Ranger criminals Harry Power. Interesting story of how he was captured on this spot.

There are some wonderful views from the lookoffs although getting there was a challenge.

After the walk back we went back out to the main road and stopped at Pizzini Winery. This farm had grown tobacco and had converted to grapes when tobacco production stopped. The kilns had been converted into accommodations and the Winery had a cooking school.

We enjoyed the same styles of wines as before but didn't buy any. At both wineries we were told that the smoke from the fires had tainted this years grapes and there might not be any red wine made this year at all from this area. 

Bruce drove us across country back to their place to rest up before we went to another Rotarians place for supper. This is big farm country with lots of cattle. The recent rains had really helped green things up. 

The Rotary Club of Benalla held a going away party for the group. As usual it was a great time.