Bellarine Times
Tuesday 20 July 2010
VOL 3. No 29
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
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WINE SALE
Cheers! Former Kilgour Estate owner, Anne Timms, and new owners, David and Lyndsay Sharp celebrate the sale of the Bellarine winery.
Photo: ALISON MARTIN
Kilgour Estate to remain in local hands, with Leura Park owners taking over
BY ALISON MARTIN
ICONIC Bellarine winery and restaurant, Kilgour Estate, has been purchased by Leura Park Estate’s David and Lyndsay Sharp, with the official handover today. The significant sale for the region will enable former Kilgour owner, Anne Timms, to eventually establish a new winery and cellar door under the label Longest View. Leura Park Estate director, David Sharp, said the couple were “over the moon about the new venture”. “We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to take on Kilgour Estate – it is one of the most brilliant sites on the Bellarine with great food, wine
Surf Forecast
and spectacular views spanning across the bay from Geelong, the You Yangs to Melbourne,” he said. David said the McAdam Lane restaurant would continue to offer the same fine food and wine experience, seven days a week, and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. The experienced Kilgour staff will remain, including chef, David Holl, who has been preparing specialty dishes such as Portarlington mussels, at the restaurant for more than two years. “We are looking forward to extending the relationship with existing staff and local suppliers and continue showcasing the multitude of great produce from within this region,” David said. Lyndsay said the two wineries would be operated
separately, with both offering completely different experiences and retaining their individual wine labels. However, the Leura Park couple, who have purchased the restaurant, winery and four acres of pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon vines, have plans for the further development of Kilgour Estate over time. “Ideas and plans are still evolving so it will be a case of ‘watch this space’ but people can be guaranteed that any concepts in the pipeline are designed to enhance visitor experience to the Bellarine,” David said. The peninsula’s wine lovers and growing tourism industry will also benefit from Anne’s plans to
eventually create a new winery and label at the nearby McAdams Lane property she will retain. Anne said she would retain 20 acres of grapes and was in the process of renovating a property where she would live and establish the boutique label, Longest View. David said Kilgour Estate was a credit to Anne, who he described as a Bellarine icon herself, and explained she had built up “a terrific venue for food and wine lovers to experience the many bounties this wonderful region has to offer”. “We both have great respect for Anne – she has been tireless in her dedication and efforts over the years in promoting the region and putting back into the community,” he said.
WED 2-3ft dropping, S 13° THU 1-3ft weak, SSW 12° FRI 2-3ft building SSE 15° SAT 1-2ft+ small WSW 15°
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