It might not be wine, but it’s love at first sip

Day 5 Friday 14/2/2025 Mansfield, sunny 15-26

With most of the crew gone home early, we make plans with Elle and ‘R’ to take a drive to Whitfield in the afternoon. We get word from Toothless that they’ve made it home before 10.00, and I’m still eating breakfast. Woody goes out for fuel and returns with a Valentine’s coffee mug. Aww!

We head up the Mansfield Whitfield Road through red gum studded golden paddocks. Those big old gums would have been here before colonisation. The road winds and climbs up past the settlement of Tolmie, its rustic pub bedecked with Aussie flags. Still the road winds and climbs through the forest until we spot the turn off to Powers lookout. Harry Powers, friend and mentor to bushranger Ned Kelly used to hang out up here because of the panoramic view of the valley, not because of the beauty but to be able to see the coppers coming. Old Harry must have been successful in his chosen career as he died at a ripe old age by drowning in the Murray River. Back to the view, there’s a bit of haze today though we can just make out Mt Hotham and the lesser peaks.

Dropping down into the King Valley and seemingly desperate, we head straight to Pizzini Wines and settle in for a tasting conducted by a recently arrived gentleman from Verona. A few bottles in hand we wander off through the flower gardens and zip back into town.

Dal Zotto’s are the folks who introduced Prosecco to Australian palates and boy do they deserve an OAM (Order of Australia Medal). The sun streams through the windows and once more, we settle our bums on stools and gaze out across the vines while we sip. Much less for muggins me who’s drawn the short straw for the drive home. We quite enjoy the wine until we meet with their limoncello spritz. That’s the best we’ve ever tasted, and amid the lament from the sales lady that ‘it’s not wine but everyone loves it’, we buy enough to sate our desires.

Wine and non-wine safely stowed we head to the local caravan park to check it out for future reference before wearily returning to Mansfield. Elle knocks up a pizza, doesn’t everyone travel with a pizza oven? And we BBQ a couple of pork cutlets though Woody swaps his salad for pizza. What is it with men and greens?

Accom: $40.00, Fuel: $7.41