Images: Eldredge Wines
Sometimes the right person walks through the door at exactly the right time.
Eldredge Wines had already been discussing bringing restaurant dining back to its Clare Valley cellar door, when chef Jon happened to arrive looking for a venue of his own.
“It was sort of that perfect timing, the universe aligned and it happened,” said cellar door manager Skye.
The chance meeting has now led to the launch of The Brasserie, bringing a dedicated restaurant back to Eldredge for the first time in around 12 years.
The Brasserie officially opened on Father’s Day, with Jon drawing on experience from kitchens in Sydney, Canberra, Tasmania and Adelaide to shape a menu influenced heavily by traditional French cooking. Jon said those influences stretch back to his apprenticeship.
“The reason I wanted to bring some of it back into my cooking is because after training as a chef, I never got to cook it again.”
“There are a lot of classic dishes with cream and tarragon and wine, but no one cooks them.”
Think chicken fricassee, beef bourguignon and, if Jon gets his way, steak frites joining the menu in future.
“Basically, I didn’t want to be afraid of butter and cream anymore.”
But the kitchen is not confined to French cooking.
Neapolitan-style pizzas have already become one of the most popular offerings, while Italian influences and simple, seasonal dishes regularly make their way onto the blackboard.
“Basically, my way I come at cooking is really simple, I cook things I want to eat.”
The menu changes weekly, giving Jon the freedom to work with whatever fresh produce is available. Skye said some locals have already returned three weeks in a row and managed to order something different on every visit.
“And there’s a selfishness behind that too, it means I never get bored!” Jon said.
The return of restaurant dining also adds another layer to Eldredge’s relaxed cellar door experience.
Set inside a 1905 stone cottage, the winery features a large deck, grassed areas and shady trees, giving visitors the option to settle in outdoors with anything from a cheese plate or pizza to a richer, home-style meal. Skye said the goal was to keep the experience welcoming and approachable.
“It’s a place where you can impress a new partner but you can also let the kids run on the lawn.”
The permanent kitchen also fills a gap left by the winery’s previous reliance on caterers and food trucks for functions and weddings.
“It’s nice to know that we’ve got something available for every weekend, that Jon is here doing amazing cooking.”
The Brasserie also complements several newer additions to the property, including caravan and camping sites among the vines.
Visitors staying on site can now pair their overnight stay with food and wine at the cellar door, while nearby Spring Gully Conservation Park offers walking trails, wildflowers and another reason to make a weekend of the area.
With warmer weather on the way, the team expects The Brasserie to become an even bigger drawcard.
“We’ve only had really good feedback, it’s been fabulous,” Skye said.
And there is more to come, with Skye teasing further plans already in the works, including Friday night drinks at the Clare Valley Visitor Information Centre.
The Brasserie at Eldredge Wines
Where: Eldredge Wines, Clare Valley
When: Thursday to Sunday, 12pm–4pm
For more info, visit their socials.
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