New Dalat hotel takes its cues from history

Dalat is different to the rest of Vietnam. Cooler and calmer.

The city is about to get a new hotel that pays tribute to the city's French colonial heritage and the unique character of Vietnam's Central Highlands. 

Grand Mercure Dalat Resort is being promoted by Grand Mercure Hotels & Resorts as a place "where  where modern flair meets enduring traditions". 

Located close to historic Dalat Railway Station and the city's former French Quarter, Grand Mercure Dalat Resort aims to reflect the charm of 1920s French colonial residences. 

Set among pine trees and landscaped gardens, the resort comprises 12 French colonial-inspired villa-style buildings arranged around courtyards, with interiors inspired by the impressionist art of Claude Monet.

The resort features 131 rooms and suites with windows or balconies overlooking the surrounding pine forests and gardens. Room categories range from superior rooms and family premium rooms to the Presidential Suite. 

Dining options at Grand Mercure Dalat Resort will include Deux Amants Restaurant, showcases farm-to-table cuisine crafted with seasonal local ingredients, while BAO Asian Cuisine celebrates the culinary traditions of Guangdong and Sichuan. 

The 1929 Lobby Bar will offer afternoon teas, while Fleurie Café serves locally sourced coffee with freshly baked French pastries. As day turns to evening, Moon Lounge offers cocktails inspired by regional ingredients. 

There is an outdoor swimming pool and La Maison Wellness Spa for relaxing. 

Grand Mercure Dalat Resort aims to capture weddings, social gatherings, meetings and events. 

Garth Simmons from Accor Asia said: “Travel should foster a meaningful connection with the destination, allowing guests to discover its culture and way of life through engaging experiences. 

"We are proud to bring Grand Mercure to Dalat, a city whose French colonial heritage continues to shape its identity today." 

For more info see https://www.grandmercuredalat.com/ 

A Tasmanian rural retreat just down the road from Hobart Airport

 

When you have to wait for a mother chicken and her fluffy chicks to get out of your way before you enter reception you know you are staying somewhere a little different. 

Iron Creek Bay Estate is a hotel, a dining establishment, a vineyard, a function centre, wedding venue and a farm stay all rolled into one. 

You'll find it overlooking the water just outside Sorrell. down the road from Hobart Airport on the route to Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula. 

Talented chef Jesse Allardyce has built up quite a following for his seasonal, produce-driven cooking at the on-site Orana restaurant (above), which is becoming a popular weekend destination for Hobartians. 

He showcases local produce including Boomer Bay oysters, Marion Bay Poultry and Tongola Goat Cheese, as well as using fruit and vegetables from the property's gardens and orchards. Think cherries, apricots, plums, figs, apples and pears.

I tried calamari in pork and kombu broth with lardo and sesame oil; kingfish with buttermilk, snow pea and dill (both delicious), and a pear and chocolate creation that was deliciously decadent.  

Pair your meal with a glass of wine made from riesling or pinot noir grapes grown on the estate - the wines are made by Jeremy Dineen from Haddow and Dineen, previously chief winemaker at Josef Chromy.    

Breakfast is pretty basic, and, I suspect, a work in progress.   

There are several accommodation options - from colourful pavilions to pods - offering free wifi, Smart TVs, Orana bathroom amenities, air conditioning and energy saving lighting. 

On-site facilities include a gym, laundry and lounge 

Kids, particularly urban kids, will enjoy getting up close to chickens, ducks, peacocks, ponies, alpacas, sheep, rabbits and horses. 

Buckets of pellets are available at the reception for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the Tasmanian rural experience and feed the critters. 

Wildlife also abounds with echidnas, wallabies, pademelons all residents of the estate. There are 5km of pathways suitable for a stroll, or a trail run. 

The original estate on the site dates back to 1834 and is now owned by the Tao family, who live on site. 

 

You are just 10 minutes from Hobart Airport and a short drive from the town of Sorell. The Tasman Peninsula, wineries including Bream Creek and Bangor and historic Port Arthur are close by. 

A great venue for anything from business meetings to a family getaway. 

Iron Creek Bay Estate, 394 Arthur Highway, Sorell 7172. (03) 6292 5030. www.ironcreekbay.com.au 

* The writer was hosted by Iron Creek Bay Estate    

 

Sign of the times; Gapsted Estate hits the market

It is a sad sign of the times when wine producers in high quality regions go into receivership. 

Gapsted Estate, a respected winery, cellar door, restaurant and events venue in the Alpine Valley wine region in North-East Victoria, is now for sale after receivers took over before Christmas. 

The property is a 24.05 hectare landholding with 8.41 hectares of vines, a winery, cellar door and on-site restaurant. 

The winery is fully operational and processes fruit for several local growers. The agents say it is capable of processing up to 11,500 tonnes of grapes per annum and has wine storage capacity of 8.2 million litres.

Other facilities include a large warehouse and distribution facility, administration building, production and laboratory building, tastings room, barrel shed and staff amenities.

The vineyard combines popular varieties like chardonnay with emerging grape varieties including saperavi, tempranillo and petit manseng. 

I've tried the wines sporadically and they have been of high quality. 

Gapsted is close to tourism drawcards including Myrtleford, Beechworth and Bright. 

Gapsted Estate is being offered for sale by Expressions of Interest closing Wednesday, March 18. 

Gapsted, also known as Victorian Alps Wine Company Pty Ltd, was established in 1997 by a group of independent grape growers from the Alpine and King valleys as a contract wine grape processing facility. 

Alpine Valley Vignerons president Stef Antonello told local newspapers that the local wine industry is “absolutely hoping” a buyer for Gapsted Estate can be found, given its pivotal role as a wine grape processor and wine maker within the region.

“Certainly if they closed there would be a lot more grapes that won’t have a home," he said. “We’re absolutely hoping someone buys them as an ongoing concern...it has great potential and just needs investment back into it.”

Breezy Marnong Estate offers more than just fine wine

Marnong Estate is a name that should be on the radar of wine lovers. And food lovers. And folk who enjoy a day or two away in the vineyards.

Owner Dino Strano is not a man to do things by halves. 

The builder and developer has already invested heavily - and has big plans in the pipeline for his property at Sunbury, just a hop, skip and jump from Melbourne Airport.

Following on from highly credentialed consultants, talented Alex Beckett leads the winemaking team and Shannon Fullerton is chief viticulturist.

“When Dino embarked on this project, he knew it would be ambitious," Beckett (below) says. "He has always taken the approach of seeking out talented and knowledgeable individuals to ensure that everything is done in the right way.”

There is upmarket villa accommodation - with an 80-room international standard hotel in the planning stage - along with two impressive on-site eateries: Cucina 3064 and the hatted La Vètta. 

Both are Italian accented, appropriate given the Strano family originally came from Sicily.

It is no wonder Marnong has quickly become popular with Melburnian wine and food lovers, as well as proving a busy wedding and function venue. There is bright, breezy and fun ambience here. 

Younger family members are nor forgotten. They can enjoy the gardens and the on-site petting zoo.

One of Marnong's major drawcards is its location. It is situated just 35 minutes north of Melbourne CBD in the heart of the Sunbury wine region. It is just 18km from Tullamarine Airport, and offers views that stretch to the Macedon Ranges.

The 480-hectare estate is also a working farm with Angus and Highland cattle grazing contentedly.

There is an original 19th century homestead along with the cellar door, eateries and function spaces.

Marnong now has close to 32 hectares of vines planted to varieties ranging from cool-climate specialities in chardonnay and pinot noir, to pinot grigio, montepulciano, fiano and sangiovese. The first plantings were in 2016.

On a recent hosted visit I was very impressed not only by the wines made by ex-Briar Ridge winemaker Beckett, but also the food and tourism offerings.

The architecturally designed lodgings offer comfort and tranquillity with studios starting from $279 per night and one-bedroom suites from $324.

Beckett was lured from the Hunter Valley by a $22 million state-of-the-art winery facility that is hugely impressive.

Good news for wine lovers: bottle prices start at a very reasonable $25 for the estate range and $35 for single vineyard wines. More expensive offerings are on the way.

Images: Winsor Dobbin/supplied

# The writer was hosted by Marnong Estate

See www.marnongestate.com.au

Heritage Paddo pub gets million dollar makeover

Heritage Paddington pub The Royal Hotel has just been given a million dollar makeover across all four levels. 

The Royal sits at the Five Ways junction, with the historic building dating back to 1888 and reign of Queen Victoria. 

The hotel was purchased by Public House Management Group in 2015 and work started on the renovations last year. 

Starting from the ground up, the Royal’s sports bar has been expanded to take over the previous bottle shop area and provides multi-screen viewing for sports lovers. 

On level one is the popular Veranda Bar and Balcony, and one floor up is the Elephant Bar, which is dedicated to private events and functions. 

The jewel in the crown is The Royal’s rooftop with views over the Sydney city skyline, 

With the new-look Royal comes a fresh menu, designed by PHMG executive chef Scott Greve. 

Classics like the Royal burger, LPs hot dog and steak frites with Café de Paris butter complement more modern dishes like the Poke Bowl. 

There are a range of regular offerings, including Monday-Friday happy hour from 4-6pm with $6.50 house wine, beer and bubbles and a Monday-Sunday bottomless dinner from 5.30pm-7.30pm every evening with a a two-course sharing menu including bottomless selected cocktails, wines and beer for $105 per person. 

Traditional Sunday roasts are another favourite. 

The wine list, however, is disappointing with a very limited choice by the glass and, peculiarly, one one wine from the Hunter Valley and none from anywhere else in NSW. Some serious work is needed here.  

See www.royalhotel.com.au

Images: Maria Boyadgis 

New drinking den for legendary Sydney hotel

Back in the day, the Coogee Bay Hotel was best known for Selina's - a raucous live music venue that hosted dozens of legendary bands and some memorable nights.

Think of blockbuster acts like Nirvana, INXS, Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil.  

Today the hotel is lot more genteel and it this week unveiled plans for Arden Lounge, an Art Deco-style bar that will open on November 25.

The lounge will be used as both a private functions space and an intimate space for locals.

Arden Lounge is linked to the Coogee Bay Hotel Garden.

Constructed by Calida to serve 100-200 patrons, the space features a large stand-alone bar which will be stocked with local beers, curated cocktails (aren't they all nowadays?) and Australian and international wines.

Aiming for “bright, airy, modern and luxe”, Studio Isgro has decorated by blending Art-Deco style with a breezy beachy colour scheme.

The kitchen will serve lunch and dinner, including Wagyu beef burgers, fish and chips, and a share plates menu featuring different options including Sydney rock oysters and char-grilled sweetcorn ribs with Sriracha mayo.

Arden Lounge joins Marra Bar & Grill, The Garden, The Sports Bar and accommodation at Coogee Bay Boutique Hotel, which will next year celebrate 150 years.

Visit coogeebayhotel.com.au for more information.