Rustico at Hay Shed Hill
Generosity is the byword at Rustico. The winery restaurant of Hay Shed Hill wines, this is a relaxed and generous space categorised by open verandas, expansive green lawn, and convivial approach to eating and drinking that screams long lunches where the adults can focus on the table knowing there is space for the kids to roam. A six-course degustation is a tapas-inspired stroll through Mediterranean culinary territory married by an approach that hallmarks bright, booming flavour – an ideal pairing for the winery’s bright wines.
Chicken liver parfait lifted by the spicy floral of pink peppercorn and sweetly savoury cranberry onion marmalade cuddles up to the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, while fried goats cheese with a strident orange blossom honey has the upfront savoury-sweet character to match the full mouth of a 2017 block 6 Chardonnay. As the courses progress, so does the richness of wine and produce – from Geraldton kingfish, through pork belly and mushrooms with sweet sherry cream, all the way to pan fried gnocchi with truffle and a berried and deeply aromatic 2016 Shiraz. Chase up the kids before seating for a taste of four housemade desserts and the famed Rustico cheeseboard. It’s a fit-to-burst lunch. Your only regret? A failure to extract every last mouthful. Don’t hold back.
