AUG2013_New menu and new wines on offer at Ocean View Estates
With new-style wines, the release of a ten-year-old Tawny Port, and a dynamic new menu featuring starters and meals designed to be shared, Ocean View Estates will be serving up more of its best this month, alongside a range of firsts that taste as good as they sound.
Co-owner Kate Honnef said the menu still included a mouthwatering range of entrees and mains, but also offered up table-share tapas and a choice of two main meal ‘shares’.
“Tapas options include parmesan-crumbed green olives stuffed with goats cheese and served with aioli; salt and pepper baby squid, and of course our ever-popular macadamia beer-battered prawns. Yes guys, I promised it would stay on the menu and it’s still there!” she said.
“Our main meal shares are large enough for two or three people, and are a really beautiful dining experience offering something that most people wouldn’t be able to cook at home.”
The Crispy Pork Belly share with apple glaze and jus is cryovacced and slow-cooked in a sous vide machine, which cooks it in a water bath for 12 hours to lock in all the flavours and moisture. The pork is then crisped in a pan before serving.
The other share is a whole lamb shoulder, slow-cooked for 12 hours and served with a chimichuri herb blitz and jus.
In the winery, Thomas Honnef and his team have their own set of firsts in the form of new- style wines and the bottling of the Estate’s first-ever Tawny Port which has been aging in oak barrels for the last ten years.
The 2013 Vintage includes the Estate’s first Merlot, which is described as light and fruity, and an already-popular semi-sweet fruity white called White Diamonds.
Thomas said the vintage also included a new-style Cabernet made using an Italian rack-drying method that produces more intense flavours.
“We picked the grapes in peak condition and laid them out on racks with fans drying them out over two weeks to concentrate the flavours and sugars, producing a beautiful heavy, full-bodied, fruity Cabernet,” he said.
This year’s Luscious Harvest, Sparkling Reflections and Viognier have also been released, with more to come. The Viognier has already received a bronze medal award at this year’s Queensland Royal National Show.
Bottling is also complete on the long-awaited Tawny Port. “We’re really proud of this Port. It’s very smooth and oaky and we have been taking orders for it for a year now, so it’s a very special limited release – you don’t want to miss this one,” Thomas said.
If you need even more reasons to visit, check out the Estate’s events calendar at www.oceanviewestates.com.au – there’s live music in the restaurant on 24 August, a degustation menu on 14 September (4 courses including wine for $79) and more! Phone us on 3425 3900.
