Train Trak Winery is located about 50km north east of the City of Melbourne in the state of Victoria. Hugh steel vats where the wine is fermented for anywhere from 5 to 14 days. Yeast is introduced in the primary fermentation process, acting as a catalyst in the conversion of sugars (glucose & fructose) into alcohol with by-products of carbon dioxide & heat.The drive was pretty straight-forward with the help of a reliable GPS though the roads were narrow 2 way lanes. It took me about 90mins to get to the Yarra Valley from Forest Hill .This shed is where organized trips for wine tasting is held by appointments onlyOak is used in winemaking to vary the colour, flavour, tannin profile and texture of the wine. Oak vats are porous in nature & allow for evaporation & oxygenation to occur thus softening the tannin content & enhancing the wines aroma, flavour & concentration. The chemical properties of oak have a profound effect on wine. Phenols in the wood produce a vanilla like flavour, tea notes & sweetnessPointing us the way to scrumptious food paired with lovely wines & a fantastic 360 degree view of the Yarra Valley… can life get any sweeter than this?Train Trak was established in 1995 & is a family owned vineyard located at one of the most picturesque part of the Yarra ValleyZonzo Restaurant serves “casalinga style” ~”homecooking like Mama makes them” Italian fare with matching wines to be enjoyed in this beautiful environmentOn a good day like this, al fresco dining is popular with visitors to the vineyardZonzo has a slightly rustic look complete with a large fireplace, hunting trophies & long wooden tables. The ambience is nice & warmFloor to ceiling glass panels allows for diners to soak in the beautiful surroundings of the Yarra ValleyWild daisies colouring the fields in late Spring. A great destination for a relaxing day trip out of Melbourne cityOriginally a dairy farm, Train Trak’s vines were first planted in 1995 with the release of their virgin vintage in year 2000All the wines at Train Trak Winery are produced from estate grown, handpicked grapes with varieties ranging from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz & Cabernet SauvignonGrape vines can grow over 120 years but after 20 years they produce smaller crops & decreasing yield & thus make for more concentrated & intense winesI love Zonzo’s signature Antipasto Platter : Pickled Onions, Red/Black/Green/Brown Olives, Artichoke, 2 types of Prosciutto, Grilled Aubergine & Zucchini, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Blue Cheese & Mozzarella served with a basket of lightly salted & fluffy Focaccia. Mamma mia!Salsiccia Pizza is a delicious thin & crispy pizza oven-baked to perfection, topped with Mozzarella, Red Onion, Tomato sauce, Spicy sausage & a sprinkling of fresh rosemary from Zonzo’s herb garden outdoors. Our accompaniment was Train Trak’s house pour Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon & a Muscat; prices ranging from A$8.50 to A$10 per glass
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