A Rotary Progress Part 3

After the billabong boat excursion we repaired to the Tahbilk winery. For those not familiar with it, this has been a continuously functioning vineyard and winery since 1860- see http://www.tahbilk.com.au/about-us/background. Privately owned by the same family for the last 88 years, the estate is clearly French influenced, especially in its tower (that could have been made into a pigonnier), its signature Marsanne white wine grapes from the Rhone, and in its cellar design, the newer of which (dating from the late 1860's) is reminiscent of a French "cave".
We like the way Tahbilk Marsanne changes colour and flavour depth each extra year it is kept, and bought some 2006 for just four extra dollars more than the current 2012.

We had a short tour of the two cellars, during which the 'cellar ghost' duly appeared as a silent black smudge.

 Thence back east to Avenel for lunch at Fowles winery. A stylish modern building and probably the best table in the region:  promised a light lunch in anticipation of dinner to come, we were served a magnificent antipasto with seemingly endless variety, all of which had to be sampled, and then accompanied by expertly fried chips. Drinks were included, and I opted for the frizzante moscato style, a light sweet bubbly that went well with the food.

The winery signature label is "Ladies who Shoot their lunch", but I surmised that the clever design added to price, and we contented ourselves with looking at the posters, which vary with the vintage year.

A Rotary Post: Part 2

Tuesday morning saw a short journey to Tabilk (the village) and Tahbilk (the winery and wetlands). The wetlands project has been sponsored by the winery, and the billabong is now a major environmental triumph: see https://www.tahbilk.com.au/tahbilk-eco-trails-history
 The billabong is best explored by boat, but the eco-trail could be rewarding if the boat is not running. At the boat jetty the landscape and flora please the eye

The water bird life is particularly attractive

There are extensive large leaf waterlily weeds (being progressively cleared, as they cramp the style and feeding of wading birds),  and an endangered native small leaf water lily (foreground of photo) being encouraged.
 

European carp are being cunningly trapped and composted by taking advantage of a jumping habit, while the native catfish population is expanding in this, its most southerly habitat (it is sensitive to water temperature).