Visitors to Passing Clouds Winery in Musk will soon be able to catch the Daylesford Spa Country Railway to the cellar door.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Passing Clouds, in partnership with Daylesford Spa Country Railway, will receive $30,000 to expand its tasting room and build a railway platform as a stop for the tourist train.
The funding comes as part of the state government’s Wine Growth Fund, which will also benefit four other wineries in the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region.
Passing Clouds winery part-owner Cameron Leith said the Wine Growth Fund grant was timely for the industry, as it would help their business overcome challenges through wine tourism.
“Instigating plans in this area can be difficult in an industry that inherently faces difficulties based around cash flow,” Mr Leith said.
“We get a couple of hundred through every weekend, but it really is at the point now where we are getting so busy we are actually turning people away.
“This (expansion to tasting room) means we should be able to cater for up to 200 people every day. As far as the railway, it will provide people with a full experience.”
Guildford Vineyard and Cellar also received a grant to complete their ‘four tonne project’.
Mandy Jean said the project involved buying wine making equipment to invite small, innovative wine makers to use Guildford grapes to make wine.
“The other part of it is that we sell other people’s wines at our cellar door and enclose our restaurant to make it weather proof,” Ms Jean said.
Guildford Vineyard and Cellar chef Zack Grumont said it would be an opportunity for small wine makers.
“There’s a lot of vineyards around us who don’t have room for a cellar door or the inclination to put one in, because it is a lot of work and time,” Mr Grumont said.
“So what we are doing is letting them have a cellar door – they can come and sell and do tastings at ours and where there are young wine makers who don’t have a vineyard, they can use our grapes to make wine.”
Sandy Farm Winery in Denver also received a grant to create a 2.5 kilometre walking track and a fitness and sculpture park.
Grants from round one and round two of the Wine Growth Fund total $1.6 million toward the Victorian wine industry.
Regional development minister Jaala Pulford said Victoria’s wine industry was resilient.
“We know drought, fire and floods can be challenging for our wine industry, but we also know there is an extraordinary resilience and a wonderful craft and skill,” Ms Pulford said.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: