A Decadent High Tea in the Swan Valley at Jane Brook Estate

I know you’re all going to find this unbelievable but yesterday I went to my very first High Tea. And let’s just say I am now a High Tea convert! Well, a ‘Sparkling High Tea’ convert. It’s no secret that wine is more my thing than tea.

A huge thank-you to the team at Jane Brook Estate who invited Mr. Spittoon and myself to their beautiful Vintage Sparkling High Tea to celebrate the 2015 end of vintage weekend in the Swan Valley. Due to the weather, the high tea was held in the old winery where the room was decked out with tables draped with white table cloths, beautiful vintage china cups and plates and wonderful vases of pretty pink roses.

The theme for this special Sparkling High Tea was ‘vintage’. We were told to raid our dress-up boxes and turn up in 50s attire. I love dressing up and when events have a theme like this, it gets me all excited! I have always been a fan of pin-up and 50s style clothes since I bought my first rockabilly dress when I was 18 from Misery in Auckland. As I was a poor uni student at the time, I spent months paying it off on layby but by goodness I loved that dress and still have it!

Unfortunately my wine drinking ways means I no longer fit the above mentioned dress. However when I first arrived in Perth and discovered Burlesque Baby on Wellington Street in Perth Metro I went a bit crazy and now have a fabulous collection of outfits perfect for such events like this high tea! So I got all glammed up, red lipstick, pearls, one of my favourite red and white 50s dresses and Mr. Spittoon pulled out his suspenders and Blues Brothers style hat to go the 50s gangsta route! We had a ball getting ready.
Naturally for dress-up events you always worry that you’ll be the only ones who took the invitation so seriously, yet when we arrived at Jane Brook it was great to see that nearly everyone had got into the spirit of the event which was fab! Even the Jane Brook staff had pulled out the stops which was fabulous.

I liked how the event was set up. We had our own little table in amongst the winery equipment and barrels. On arrival we were given a complimentary glass of 2010 Elizabeth Jane Blanc de Blanc bubbles which was simply exquisite. Sophie, one of the lovely staff from Jane Brook explained to us about the history of the bubbles as well as of Jane Brook which I found incredibly interesting.

The property use to be named Vignacourt Wines but then was renamed Jane Brook after the small stream that runs past the property, aptly named ‘Jane Brook’. The story goes that the Brook and various other Brooks in the Valley are named after wives of important men back in the 1800’s. Jane was said to be the wife of Fremantle’s Harbour Master, Captain Mark John Currie.
We were also told about how the Chenin Blanc and Shiraz grapes are grown on the Swan Valley property and the other grapes for their tipples are grown on a Margaret River property that the estate owns as well.

While sipping away on our bubbles we were brought a gorgeous array of food prepared by the lovely Denise, who definitely has a skill for preparing an amazing array of delicious bites to eat. There were delicious goat cheese & caramelised onion tarts, fresh sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, red velvet cupcakes, caramel macaroons and more! I was literally stuffed by the time we walked away and the sad thing is we couldn’t even eat it all!

At $40 a ticket which includes the one glass of vintage bubbles, tea/coffee and all those tasty delights – it truly is a bargain! This was my first time eating at Jane Brook as I have only ever stopped in for tastings. I will be sure to go back soon for lunch as the menu looks absolutely tasty and matched with their fabulous wines – well what more could you want.

Naturally we couldn’t walk away without grabbing a few ‘takeaways’ so after scrummaging through their museum stock, I ended up picking up a bottle of their 2004 Elizabeth Jane bubbles and also picked up a bottle of their Sparkling Pink Malbec bubbles which was released a few months ago and is absolutely divine, read my tasting note here.

Address: 229 Toodyay Rd, Middle Swan 6056
Phone: (08) 9274 1432
Open Times: 10am – 5pm 7 days per week
Wines: Sparklings (white & rose), Plain Jane White, Red and Rose blends, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc& Semillon blend, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fortifieds (Tawny port, Liqueur Muscat, Liqueur Tokay, Liqueur Verdelho, White Port)
Wine tasting cost: Free!
Food available: Yes,
Website: www.janebrook.com.au