What’s better than a long lunch at a winery in the Rutherglen region?
Staying the night.
Buller Wines is soon-to-be offering eight individual eco units, aptly named Vine View Accommodation, to its visitors.
“We have such a fabulous site at the vineyard, it made sense to add accommodation to our winery and restaurant,” Michael Murtagh, part owner of Buller Wines, said.
Rutherglen, like many other regional towns, is undergoing a staffing and housing shortage.
However, Rutherglen is not willing to lose its well-established tourist trade built on the back of Winery Walkabout fame and a strong history of winemaking.
“Big employers are buying up local motels to house their staff and it means our tourism industry has even less accommodation options,” Mr Murtagh said.
Buller Wines, owned by the Judd family, winemaker David Whyte and Rutherglen local Mr Murtagh, are taking matters into their own hands, ensuring wine appreciators can enjoy a day of wine tasting and stay locally.
“About two years ago we started the project and whilst it’s a tough time to be building, we expect to be open around May,” Mr Murtagh said.
“We’ve sourced everything locally; materials, trades, the lot. We believe the eco units fit in perfectly with the landscape. They have views of the vineyards, built from natural materials and the opportunity to sit outside on the verandahs.”
The Pavilion restaurant serves lunch from Wednesday through to Sunday and Buller Wines also hosts weddings, functions and corporate events.
Mr Murtagh said he believed the accommodation offering was a necessary additional string to the business’ bow and would help the Rutherglen region stay competitive into the future.