This was published 1 year ago
Accommodation review: Balgownie Estate, Yarra Valley - For wellness with wine, this place is hard to beat
By Danielle Norton
The resort has expansive lawns, an indoor pool and gym, a tennis court and a giant outdoor chess board, but the award-winning wine at the cellar door holds the greatest appeal for most.
CHECK-IN
One of the two luxurious Balgownie winery estates, the other in Bendigo, this resort in the Yarra Valley, Victoria's cool climate wine region, hosts weddings and events year-round. It also features the tranquil and new Endota Spa which includes sublime face and body treatments. On the Melba Highway, it's a one-hour drive from Melbourne's CBD. The resort has expansive lawns, an indoor pool and gym, a tennis court and a giant outdoor chess board, but the award-winning wine at the cellar door holds the greatest appeal for most.
THE LOOK
Accommodation is apartment style with most of the 4.5-star rooms due for an upgrade next year.
Balgownie has risen from the ashes of its previous incarnation after a 2020 kitchen fire destroyed the restaurant. The contemporary design, by ZWEI Interiors and Architecture, is a combination of polished concrete, noise-absorbing hardwood timber, American oak slats and warm lighting. The foyer is adjacent to the cellar door with a modern aesthetic; the floating fireplace and curved velvet lounges provide a vibrant space to pause. The restaurant beyond beckons with views of the winery and the nearby Yarra ranges. The sleek cocktail bar, within metres of the front door, is a welcoming pitstop for diners who arrive before their party.
Endota has moved into the existing spa premises and a refurbishment and upgrade has transformed the tired space. A soothing colour scheme and eight treatment rooms for singles and doubles offers facials, massage, and a range of packages and Endota's signature fragrance (rose, geranium, lavender, patchouli) whirls gently around the spa reception area. It's a relaxing space open to day visitors and overnight guests.
THE ROOM
Accommodation is apartment style with most of the 4.5-star rooms due for an upgrade next year. My spacious one-bedroom spa suite has a balcony facing the rolling vistas of the wineries and hills of the Yarra Valley. The bathroom contains a circular spa bath with a window into the suite's living room. It seems odd at first glance but once I'm immersed in it and absorbing the view, the orientation makes sense. The beds are king-sized, the kitchenette has space for cheese and wine, and the lounge is roomy enough for you to invite guests for an afternoon tipple.
FOOD + DRINK
Restaurant 1309 has a new chef at the helm. Irishman Aidan Gallagher has decades of experience in overseas restaurants, including the Merrion Hotel in Dublin and award-winning Irish pub McGettigan's in Dubai. Pumpkin cornbread is light and fluffy with a whipped jalapeno butter that melts in the mouth. My favourites are the Buxton trout served with an avocado lime mousse on black quinoa puffs and a chicken ravioli with local asparagus. The dry-aged Gippsland rib eye with a chilli tomato relish makes the tastebuds zing but the dessert, a Coldstream sorbet presented in a floral ice bowl containing tiny violas, has us gasping with surprise. The accompanying freeze-dried strawberries juxtapose with the creamy sweetness and finish the meal with finesse. We opt for matched Balgownie wines which have us in fine spirits for the walk back to our suites.
OUT + ABOUT
The Yarra Valley is predominantly wine country, but it's also home to the popular Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, where there are walls lined with specialty chocolates, chocolate on tap and chocolate education classes. Nearby are art galleries within wineries at Tarrawarra and St Huberts, and the Yarra Valley Dairy has tasting platters of handcrafted goat and cow's cheeses. Hot air balloons sail the skies at sunrise on clear mornings, and on weekends there are craft markets with live music.
THE VERDICT
For an easy-to-access wellness retreat with a splash of wine, Balgownie Estate is hard to beat.
ESSENTIALS
From $345 for a one bedroom standard spa suite and $795 for a two bedroom spa suite. Refurbished one bedroom deluxe suites start at $595. Book your Escape wellness package (including infra-red sauna and spa treatments) as soon as your accommodation is confirmed. 1309 Melba Hwy, Yarra Glen, phone (03) 9730 0700. See balgownie.com
HIGHLIGHT
Complimentary wine tasting at the Cellar Door is the icing on the cake.
LOWLIGHT
Commercial station radio in the infra-red sauna. More soothing tunes would improve the experience.
OUR RATING
★★★★
Danielle Norton was a guest of Balgownie Estate and Endota Spa.
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