Best wineries, restaurants in West Gippsland

Skip the popular Yarra Valley and Peninsula wine regions for the hidden delights of West Gippsland. MasterChef finalist and local cook Noelene Marchwicki shares her food lover’s guide to the region.

Cannibal Creek winery is a real treasure.

Gippsland cook and MasterChef finalist Noelene Marchwicki knows her region. Here are some tasty stops around West Gippsland.

The Bayside Lady

This has it all: pizza, Italian dishes and Australian cuisine. They make a superb marina pizza. The coffee is great and they have friendly and efficient staff. You can dine inside or outside and there is a lovely, calm ambience in the garden out the back.

19 A’Beckett St, Inverloch

Courthouse Restaurant

Impressive Australian cuisine in a tastefully refurbished courthouse. They have delectable share platters, terrific tapas, pasta and pizzas. I recommend the bistro classic chicken schnitzel.

72 Smith St, Warragul

Brandy Creek Estate

I love the pork belly tapas tasting plate, with a glass of their cool climate wine.

This is a hidden gem nestled in the evergreen, undulating hills.

Buln Buln Rd, Drouin East

Brandy Creek winery

Middels

International cuisine with great coffee and cocktails. The food is delicious and the produce is locally sourced, my favourites are the paella and the Spanish pot.

3/94 Princes Way, Drouin

String and Salt

This store founded on a love of food, home and a sense of sharing. They have a collection of more than 300 spices, spice blends, herbs, salt, teas and peppers. There’s supplies for DIY fermenting, bread making, cheese making and beer making, along with quality cookware.

42 Smith St, Warragul

Cannibal Creek

This West Gippsland vineyard and restaurant is a real treasure. I highly recommend the blue grenadier.

260 Tynong North Rd, Tynong North

Cannibal Creek winery has an on site restaurant.

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Noelene will be presenting cooking demonstrations on Friday at Mid Valley Shopping Centre, Morwell. midvalleyshoppingcentre.com.au