First look inside Brisbane’s first winery in 150 years

Exclusive pictures from inside the first winery to open in Brisbane since 1860, coming to Fortitude Valley soon.

The wait for Brisbane’s first winery since 1860 is almost over, with City Winery revealing it will open its doors on March 20.

The work of Gerler Wines founder Adam Penberthy and winemaker Dave Cush, the 500sq m site will combine a micro winery with a 60-seat restaurant, bar and tasting room in the old Campos coffee warehouse on Wandoo St in Fortitude Valley.

Chef Travis Crane at City Winery, Fortitude Valley

Brisbane shocks with wine list of the year award

Best wine list and regional restaurant: The Courier-Mail Food Awards 2018

The building boasts an industrial, organic and homely fit-out with natural timbers, concrete, and a black colour scheme. Highlights will include a wall of dry ageing meat fridges and around 100 oaked barrels piled floor to ceiling.

The restaurant will take over the space formerly occupied by Campos cafe and have warm lighting, lots of greenery and a New York loft vibe.

Some of the 100 wine barrels at City Winery in Fortitude Valley.

Former The Barrelroom, Ballandean chef Travis Crane will be in the kitchen preparing his signature nose-to-tail cookery and butchering his own meats, with menus changing daily or weekly depending on produce available. Dishes may include dry-aged mutton leg off the grill, cured rainbow trout or coal-roasted pineapple with olive oil sponge.

The dry-ageing meat cabinet at the soon-to-open City Winery, Fortitude Valley

The wine list will be cropped, focusing on their own drops as well as those from labels that inspire Cush, while local beers from Aether, Felons and Revel will be on pour.

A 20-seater cellar will act as a private dining room, while patrons can also come in for a simple drink and bite to eat at the bar and watch the wine being made. With a manual basket press and manual bottling on site, Penberthy says customers can also get hands-on in the wine making process, helping Cush bottle the vino.

Food will be cooked over coals at the soon-to-open City Winery, Fortitude Valley

“We want to make it as much of an experience as possible,” he says. “We want people to come in and accidentally learn heaps.”