The COVID-19 inspired world of new online entertainment seems to never end. Monique Boucher, director of Hidden deTours, has put a virtual spin on the classic wine tour and launched a series of live streaming tours spanning wine, gin, craft beer and cider. Just for the novelty, this is something you have try!
The first tour is a wine tour through the stunning Bickley Valley in the Perth Hills, around 40 minutes South-East of Perth. The tour starts at 1pm and goes for approximately three and a half hours, but you can tune in and out as you please, with the wine schedule posted on the Facebook (and below).
The tours give you a chance to see and hear about the wineries and wines of the region, but of course is much more entertaining if you have the wines to drink as you go, but for this you need to be organised and buy in advance. Many of the smaller wineries’ wines aren’t widely distributed and some available at the cellar door only.
The Bickley Valley tour includes seven wineries: Tonon Vineyard and Winery, Fairbrossen, Carldenn Homestead Winery, Plume Estate Vineyard, Myattsfield, Hainault Vineyard and La Fattoria. Each winery getting a 30 minute slot, Monique will chat with the winemakers and provide notes on pairings.
To get the full experience, viewers can buy the wines prior to Saturday to taste along with Monique. Each venue will showcase two wines, with the list available on their Facebook event. Plus, as the tour is live streamed, questions from viewers are welcomed for the winemakers to answer directly.
“I want to make people feel like they are on the bus”
On future live streaming events, Monique told us, "I'm planning on it. I've got the gin [distilleries] waiting for the following Saturday, then the [breweries] for the next week."
Bickley Valley April 25 Wine Tour Schedule:
1pm - TONON VINEYARD AND WINERY
Wines: 2018 Seven Sticks Prosecco and 2019 Fiano.
How to buy: online or at cellar door Sat 10am-4pm. Free delivery to Perth metro area until end of April
See
here.
1.25/30pm - FAIRBROSSEN
Wines: Fairbrossen Tempranillo and Sideproject Saperavi
How to buy: online or cellar door on Sat from 12pm to 4pm. Receive 30% off purchases of 6 or 12 bottles and free delivery during COVID-19 restrictions. Visit their website here.
2pm - CARLDENN HOMESTEAD WINES
Wines: Chardonnay and Semillon
How to buy: online, by phone call or pick up. Delivery is $10 for residents in Perth and $20 for nationwide deliveries. Visit the website here.
2.30pm - PLUME ESTATE VINEYARD
Wines: Sparkling Wine and Reserve Shiraz
How to buy: online or drive thru at cellar door on Fri, Sat & Sun from 12pm - 4pm. You also receive a 25% discount off 6 or more bottles. Plus it's free delivery for Perth metro area! See the details on their website.
3pm - MYATTSFIELD
Wines: 2017 Durif and 2019 Vermentino
How to buy: online or cellar door collection on Fri, Sat & Sun from 11am to 4pm. You can get 15% off and free metro delivery on 6 or more bottles during the COVID-19 restrictions. See here.
3.35pm - HAINAULT VINEYARD
Wines: 2018 Field Blend and 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
How to buy: online or at cellar door on Sat & Sun from 12pm – 3 pm. Receive 20% off on 6 or 12 bottles (doesn't include Sparkling Wine). It is free delivery to Perth metro areas or $20 to regional WA. Visit their website here.
We will also be chatting to Benoit Lasplace owner of Mistelle, a small French eatery overlooking the Hainault Vineyard.
Check out his new initiativ named Mistelle at Home, here.
4.10pm - LA FATTORIA
Wines: Sparkling Pignoletto and Nero D'avola
How to buy: online on their website. It is $10 for Perth deliveries.
4.30pm - Tour concludes.
Explore all Bickley Valley wineries