Renascence Group is opening a new wine house, which will include a wine bar, bottle shop, and private dining room under the one roof.
Opening on the former Morena site at Little Collins St, the new wine house is part of the Farmer’s Daughters portfolio, and will continue the brand’s farm-to-table ethos.
Led by Executive Chef Alejandro Saravia, Farmer’s Daughters Wine House will champion Victoria’s artisans through a tight, produce-first menu and a sommelier-curated wine program to enjoy in-house or take away.
“The menu is fresh and concise. We’re maintaining our strong farm-to-table approach and giving our artisans a place to shine,” says Saravia.
“At Wine House, we cook the way we love to eat at home: simple, seasonal, no complications. The best of Gippsland takes the lead; our job is to honour the artisans behind it and let the produce speak.”
The menu is inspired by how the team loves to eat at home, and guests can expect artisanal smallgoods and specialties from Craig Young’s Butchery, Oakwood Smallgoods, That’s Amore cheese, Del Bocia butter, and Amber Creek Farm, served alongside seasonal snacks and small plates designed for wine-pairing.
Highlights on the menu include the charcoal grilled burger for Thursday lunches only, and the farmer’s lunch counter plate available only during Friday lunchtime. The counter plate includes butcher cuts cooked over charcoal like the grilled Denver steak, braised beef shin on the bone, and chicken parma. The menu will change regularly with the seasons and will be designed to share.
An open kitchen overlooks the bar, while for more intimate evenings, the private dining room is an option.
Guests can drink-in from a dynamic by-the-glass list or take away from the cellar’s collection curated over three years by the team behind Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters.
Farmer’s Daughters Wine House Sommelier Stephen Amman says the list has been approached with Gippsland front and centre. If it’s not Gippsland, it’s Victorian; if it’s not Victorian, it’s Australian. Champagne will be a fixture too.
Guests can expect around 20 to 25 wines by the glass, with current favourites including William Downie, Anna and Neil Hawkins (The Wine Farm), Justin & Lisa Jenkins (Fleet), Ryan Ponsford (Entropy), and Tom and Rob Lightfoot.
Amman says to think of the Wine House as the city’s cellar door to Gippsland.
“Our relationships with producers shape the list. You’ll find not only the wines they craft, but also the bottles they’re drinking right now,” says Amman.
“We’ve built a section guided by our favourite Gippsland and Victorian winemakers – what these legends are opening from around the world and how it’s influencing their work and ours.”
Farmer’s Daughters Wine House will open on Wednesday 15 October. The venue will open for dinner from 5pm to 10pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, and lunch from 12pm to 3pm, Thursdays and Fridays.
The Wine House is just around the corner from the Farmer’s Daughters flagship venue at 80 Collins St, which includes a rooftop, restaurant, and deli across three floors.
Photography provided by Farmer’s Daughters Wine House.
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