Rutherglen

Jones Winery & Vineyard

Star Cellar Door

You are guaranteed to come across either the winemaker, Mandy Jones, or her brother, viticulturist, Arthur, when visiting Jones Winery. It’s refreshing to see and your experience will be the more rewarding for it because this is very much a hands-on operation in the Rutherglen tradition with outstanding hospitality assured.

Mandy brings many talents to her role, for not only is she an excellent winemaker but also a cook of some acclaim, a graduate of France’s renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school. The petite winery café runs to some classic French dishes such as duck rillettes, confit of duck, medallions of scented lamb with a salad niçoise and Brittany biscuits. Visit the cellar door and stay for the food (picnic hampers are also available). The French theme runs strong with wines from Mandy’s long-time second job (now finished) at Château Carsin in Bordeaux available for sale.

The selection of wines is positively modest, a grouping of a few whites led by marsanne and the district’s red ambassadors: shiraz and durif. Mandy’s winemaking style is no-fuss and, with the exception of her fortifieds, uncomplicated. A new addition, an orange-and-spices-infused aperitif called Correll, is made for the warmer weather. JENI PORT

OUTSTANDING WINE: 2013 Jones L.J. Shiraz, A$65