Celebrate this year’s vintage with an exclusive Thai banquet at the stunning Central Victoria winery.
This autumn, modern Thai restaurant Longrain heads north to Central Victoria, bringing an exclusive Thai banquet lunch to the picturesque winery and working farm, Sutton Grange.
Located just 1½ hours from Melbourne CBD or 20 minutes south of Bendigo, Longrain will offer weekend lunches at Sutton Grange Winery each Saturday and Sunday from March 13 for a limited time only. Chef-restaurateur Scott Pickett has created bespoke dishes for the occasion, along with some Longrain signatures that perfectly pair with the winery’s award-winning drops, traditionally handcrafted by winemaker Melanie Chester.
Though Sutton Grange has a longstanding relationship with Longrain, this is the first venture for Pickett’s new catering business, SP Events.
“We can showcase the punchy flavours of Longrain within the scenic vineyards and match the dishes with the outstanding Sutton Grange wines. It’s an opportunity for us to give our guests the full culinary experience and share our love for our local region and fine produce. It will also be the first gig for our new catering arm of the business, so we are very excited to start this new chapter,” said Pickett.
Served in the grand limestone barrel hall, Longrain’s banquet menu effortlessly balances the four essential elements of South-East Asian cuisine: hot, sour, salty and sweet. Designed to complement Sutton Grange’s unique wine offering, dishes include:
● East 33 Sydney Rock oysters, finger lime, ma kweng pepper
● Betel leaf with smoked trout, galangal and trout roe
● Barbequed black pepper chicken skewers
● Wagyu beef crying tiger, leeks, roasted rice, jeow dressing
● Barbecued salmon wrapped in banana leaf, shiitake xo
● Gaeng hung lay lamb curry, kipfler potatoes, pickled garlic, roasted macadamia ● Steamed jasmine rice
● Papaya salad, snake beans, tomatoes
● Coconut tapioca, spiced quince
Sutton Grange is easily accessible as part of a day trip or weekend escape for city dwellers, or an enjoyable day out for locals in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Kyneton, Harcourt and beyond. As vintage season approaches, guests can take in the breathtaking views of the vast vineyard and watch pickers harvest grapes beneath the spectacular rolling hills of Leanganook (Mt Alexander).
To complete the afternoon, Sutton Grange’s sit-down cellar door tasting experience is available for just an additional $10. Explore the classic Central Victoria varietals and alternative blends that capture the uniqueness of the terroir as the winemakers share the story of the 1000-acre property.
Additionally, guests are invited to continue the experience at home with gift packs ($99) available to purchase featuring Longrain sauces, Sutton Grange wine, Scott Pickett’s cookbook Marriage of Flavours and a Longrain tote bag.
“We all could use a little getaway right now, whether you live in Melbourne or Bendigo. We hope that you will come with your friends and family and enjoy a beautiful day in the vineyards with great food and wine,” says Pickett.
Longrain × Sutton Grange pop-up details:
Location: Sutton Grange Winery – Barrel Hall, 1 Carnochans Rd, Sutton Grange VIC 3448
Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday from 13 March (excluding Saturday, 27 March and Saturday, 17 April)
Time: From 12:00pm
Price: $95 per person for an exclusive banquet menu
Bookings: are essential, via longrainmelbourne.com
Main image: Alex Squadrito