May Winemakers’ Lunch
To start off this year's series, we welcomed a new charge of winemakers into our space, Steffi Snook of Yayoi Wines and Sierra Reed of Reed Wines. They’re relatively recent additions to the world of wine, each at the start of their journey but creating memorable wines for the cellar and table.
Steffi Snook, Yayoi Wines
Originally from New Zealand, Steffi worked on the floor in venues like Rockpool, Vue de Monde and Dinner by Heston before truly settling into a life of wine. After a vintage in 2019 with Matt Holmes from Bannockburn Vineyards, time as a cellar hand with Winemaker’s Lunch alums, Ray Nadeson and Maree Collis from Lethbridge Wines, Steffi poured her love of Chenin Blanc into her inaugural collection in 2021.
Yayoi is Steffi’s Japanese given name symbolising ‘new life.’ And with that, she hopes to breathe new life into growing Chenin Blanc here in Victoria.
Sierra Reed, Reed Wines
Sierra has a storied past. She was born in California and has been a model, a TV host and reality TV star, but became enraptured with the world of wine when filming in New Zealand.
She embarked on a journey to learn winemaking from the best, working in the Napa Valley of her native California, then to Beaujolais, Central Otago, the Rheingau and Barolo under some impressive vignerons.
Reed is now based on the Bellarine Peninsula in Torquay where she focuses on making spectacular single-vineyard wines from vineyards across the world.
May Winemakers’ Lunch Menu
2022 Yayoi Pet Nat ‘Par Hasard' Murray Darling, Victoria
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Baker Bleu country loaf, cultured butter
Rocky Point cobia crudo, pickled celery, blood orange
2023 Reed Riesling ‘White Heart,' Mount Alexander, Victoria
2023 Reed Semillon ‘Lessons,’ Geelong, Victoria
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Days Walk Farm honeynut pumpkin & Comte tart
2023 Yayoi Chenin Blanc ‘Vallèe of the Kings,' Swan Hill, Victoria
2022 Yayoi Vermentino ‘Vue de Sol D'ete,' Murray Darling, Victoria
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Ravens Creek pork cutlet, braised fennel, apple mustard, broad leaf rocket
Farm leaves
2023 Reed Grenache ‘Alexia,' Vine Vale, South Australia
2023 Yayoi Merlot Nouveau ‘Miles Raymond,' Coonawarra, South Australia
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Long Paddock Flannel Flower Brie, lavosh
2023 Reed Botrytis Riesling ‘Frequency,' Waitaki Valley, New Zealand
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