If a luxury country escape in a gourmet region sounds like your kind of holiday, you’ve come to the right place. Situated in Victoria’s beautiful High Country in the small town of Milawa is the new Lancemore Boutique Hotel. An oasis of luxury amidst vineyards and stunning country landscape, the Lancemore opened its doors in August 2022 after having undergone a multi-million dollar renovation… And we were fortunate to experience it first-hand.
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Firstly, Why should you visit Milawa?
Other than the stunning new boutique hotel, Milawa is a quaint little country town known as being a gourmet region thanks to the many vineyards, fresh local producers and crafts. Some popular attractions include:
- The Milawa Cheese company,
- Brown Brothers Winery (with its adjoining epicurean centre),
- Milawa Mustards,
- The Olive Shop,
- Hurdle Creek Distillery, and now,
- The Lancemore’s very own Restaurant Merlot.
No wonder it’s a foodies dream holiday spot.
Getting There
Coming from Sydney, we flew into Albury Airport, picked up our rental car from Hertz, then drove to Milawa in just under an hour. Alternatively, if you’re up for a road trip, it’s a 6 and a half hour drive from Sydney, or just 2 hours and 45 minutes from Melbourne.
Lancemore Milawa
If we had to sum it up in just one sentence, it would be this: An opportunity to slow down, take a breath of fresh country air and enjoy being surrounded by nature all whilst indulging in gourmet food and drinks.
Sounds idyllic right? Let’s go into a bit more detail.
The Design
The stunning interiors and spacious layout is all thanks to award-winning interior designers The Stella Collective. It’s casual and cosy yet minimal and elegant. Sophisticated country if you will.
It’s clear that the 40-room hotel was carefully curated to be complementary to its High Country surroundings. For example, the two large lounge areas with floor-to-ceiling windows providing uninterrupted views, the bean bags out the front of the restaurant so you can enjoy a glass of wine right next to the vineyards, and the open-air courtyard to name a few, all so you can feel close to nature.
The Rooms
Then there are the rooms, immaculate and spacious with perhaps the world’s fluffiest pillows. Our room was situated on the second floor with stunning views of the vineyards and the lovely-looking hotel pool area (which gives off luxury motel vibes in the best possible way). We loved sitting on the balcony of our room, sipping on wine from the mini bar, and were amazed at just how tranquil it was.
The Restaurant
If you’re staying at the Lancemore in Milawa, you simply MUST dine at their in-house restaurant Merlot. It has already become a culinary attraction in the area for locals and tourists alike, and for good reason. The Australian cuisine headed by their executive chef, Aaron Jose, is world-class. Think tortellini, smoked trout, Angus Eye fillets, duck fat roasted potatoes, and pistachio semifreddo to name just a few. The paddock-to-plate philosophy brings together the best of what the High Country has to offer. And thanks to the expertly curated wine list that perfectly complements the seasonal dishes, you are in for a food journey you’ll remember for years to come! Make sure you book a table though as spots tend to fill up quickly.
A Must Visit To Brown Brothers
Another absolute must when you’re staying at the Lancemore is a short stroll over to the Brown Brothers Winery with its adjoining epicurean centre. Pop in for a wine tasting at the cellar door, or if you’re like us and enjoy a long lunch with good food and great wine, then make sure you book at the Brown Brothers restaurant. Essentially it’s a hatted dining experience without the Sydney or Melbourne price tag. We spent about 3 hours here enjoying the stunning views, sipping on delicious wines, and eating some of the most memorable food we’ve ever had. Our advice is to go for the $75pp set menu as you’ll get a taste of each of the extraordinary dishes on offer. Our wine pick for the day was the 2020 Patricia Chardonnay. *Chefs kiss*
If you’re planning your 2023 getaways, and a food and wine-filled gourmet escape is right up your alley, make sure to add the Lancemore in Milawa to your list! You won’t regret it.
The author of this article, Denise Barnes, stayed as a guest of Lancemore Milawa.
