After returning to Howlong from Brockelsby we turned off the Riverina Hwy and away from the river and headed off to Rutherglen. Allthego viewed Rutherglen as a compulsory stop in order to sample some of the famous reds, ports and muscats the region is known for, it is not unlike Glenrowan (home of Baileys where we often drop in on the way further south along the Hume Hwy) in this regard. Rutherglen is not shy about its famous ports and reds.

It was also Mothers Day weekend and the town had been swamped by Melbournians escaping to the country after the long period of COVID imprisonment. We were lucky to get into the caravan park, took an unpowered site for one night and then moved onto power the following morning for a further two nights. The caravan park is quite small and overlooks the town lake and is a street back from the centre of town.

All the motels/hotels and other accommodations were booked out and many of the eating establishments , including those at several of the vineyards, were booked out for Sunday lunches. The town’s main street is littered with eating places of all sorts, operating from the old shop fronts of businesses long closed. The streetscape is well preserved.

So we decided to have Mothers Day sunday lunch early on Saturday night at the Poachers Hotel, very nice steak and pork cutlet. Can be recommended if you are ever there, as is their pizza. In the course of the couple of days we managed to get to a couple of old famous vineyards. Morris and All Saints. They both do the reds well, not to mention the muscat and port. Joined mailing lists and have some bottles being sent home towards the end of the trip. Allthego likes to be home when these arrive so that he can keep track of them. Wouldn’t like for them to get into the wrong hands if left on doorsteps by delivery people.

The vineyards are also looking great at the moment with the leaves on the vines turning from green to orange as autumn advances. All Saints is particularly well groomed. A long avenue of elm trees well over hundred years old line the driveway into the vineyard castle built in 1864.

While here we have also slipped up to Corowa, a nearby sister town, which is astride the Murray. There just happens to be a tempting whisky and gin distillery here. Interesting place in an old flour mill or something like that, they also do chocolates. This establishment is one of those on the Murray Farm Gate Trail.

The Farm gate Trail winds around the area highlighting various foody places. Problem was, we were doing this on a Monday and then were to continue along its path when we left the next day for Tocumwal. Many of the places were closed on Monday and Tuesday! A bit disappointing and frustrating driving around discovering this, more research required next time! So maybe after our one night stay at Tocumwal we will catch some on Wednesday!