Re’em

It’s no secret that the Yarra Valley is home to some of Victoria’s best wineries. It’s a go-to destination for wine tours, long-lunches and special occasions.

Not to be overlooked is Helen and Joey Estate, a picturesque 200-acre estate with a working vineyard. Re’em is at the heart of the estate, serving as a restaurant, event space, a cellar door and a boutique hotel. Take a seat in a booth by the window with uninterrupted views of the lake and vineyards.

Expect snacks like spring onion pancakes and lamb belly skewers with house-made sriracha to start, followed by entrees like citrus-cured kingfish with coriander and chilli. Mains might include 48-hour barbeque pork belly or woodfired trout. And to finish, there’s the crowd-favourite black sesame sponge cake with house-made strawberry sorbet, lemon and tarragon.

For something more casual, head to the cellar door for a snack menu that might feature shiitake dumplings and Hainan chicken with puffed rice. Downstairs at the cellar door, a sculpture wall by Melbourne glass artist Mark Douglass and a garden of indoor ferns lead to an intimate 12-seat private dining room. Next door is the barrel room, where group wine tastings are on offer. You can also build your own picnic basket with items like duck-and-prune terrine that you can enjoy down by the lake.

The boutique Re’em hotel has 16 rooms, including a bridal suite. Upstairs, larger suits come complete with private balconies, king beds and deep-soak bathtubs overlooking the vineyard. Each of the downstairs rooms has its own private garden patio that leads out to the vineyard.