Mitchell Harris Wines / Wine Bar
Star Cellar Door
(03) 5331 8931
mitchellharris.com.au
With more than a nod to Brunswick Street in its décor and vibe, the Mitchell Harris wine bar is an urban cellar door that not only highlights the co-owner’s wines, but those of his immediate wine neighbours. John Harris is a former Domaine Chandon sparkling winemaker who left the Yarra Valley to start afresh making wine in the region where he grew up. He and his brother-in-law bought an 1870s-built former canvas makers building in central Ballarat, kept the refurbishment minimal and raw, and decided early on to use it as a showcase for Western Victoria produce and wine.
Harris’s tastes are eclectic, challenging the drinker from a Pyrenees-sourced sauvignon blanc, sangiovese and mataro to a sauvignon blanc-based fortified aperitif. The star on the wine list, not too surprisingly, is Harris’ sparkling vintage Sabre.
High tables, stools and lounges abound and the food is fresh and modern, perfect for sharing led by the signature dish white tuna belly. JENI PORT
OUTSTANDING WINE: 2013 Mitchell Harris Sabre Sparkling, A$42