The Night I Had My Own Swan Valley Vineyard
We all dream of owning a vineyard – it sounds so romantic doesn’t it? For a night, Mr. Spittoon and I pretended we did when we stayed at Upper Reach’s luxury spa cottage in the Swan Valley. We had a wonderful time and naturally a lot of wine was consumed. Here is what we got up to and the best bit is the Upper Reach team have a special deal for TC readers, which gives you a free night at the cottage (scroll to the bottom of the post for further details)!
Firstly I want to say a big thanks to Upper Reach Winery in the Swan Valley for inviting Mr. Spittoon and I out to stay a night at their vineyard cottage. We had such a lovely stay and really struggled to come back to reality. Thank fully we stocked up at the cellar door so we can drown our sorrows with good wine now we’re back at home!
The Cottage
It’s so beautiful and quaint! The self-contained 1907 cottage has had a bit of a makeover to give it a rustic modern charm. It looks out over the vineyard and back down to the cellar door which definitely gives you that ‘this is my vineyard’ feel.
I really loved the canvas wine-inspired pictures too on the walls inside to make sure you’re totally immersed in everything wine related.
There is 2 bedrooms which means it’s perfect for a couple or family/group of friends. The main bedroom oozes luxury and I must admit I had the best night sleep. The black-out curtains assisted with a much-needed sleep-in and those 1000 thread count sheets were totally lush!
I loved the big spa bath, which was a perfect spot to sip on a glass of vino (the Reserve Chardonnay went down particularly well here). I know this is going to sound weird, but the hand soap in the bathroom smelt absolutely divine! Plus of course there are little shampoos, conditioners and soaps to use in the shower and bath. I really loved the look and feel of the bathroom from the black and white titles to the antique side table.
The kitchen is fully equipped so you can cook up a storm if you wish with stove top, oven, microwave and fridge/freezer. It’s very smart thinking by Upper Reach to have wines in the fridge and on the table for guests to purchase (at cellar door prices too) – just in case you forgot to stock up at the cellar door prior to check-in. They simply ask that you pay for these upon checkout.
The lounge is equipped with a log fireplace which was perfect for this wintry weather – I love how they had this smouldering when we arrived so the cottage was nice and toasty. There is also reverse cycle air conditioning. The lounge has a flat screen tv and DVD player. We were fully prepared with DVDs to watch, it was wonderful in front of the fire with a cheese platter. So much so that Mr. Spittoon fell asleep on the couch. I was tempted to leave him there and enjoy the master bed all to myself, but I was feeling generous 🙂
After checking in and before chilling out with the DVDs we thought we’d follow the vineyard walk path which takes you down to the Swan River. It was such a lovely walk, wandering past all the vines. There is a lovely deck over the river which you can sit on and watch the world go by. We thought we’d take a bottle down with us to enjoy – it was perfect and sans mobile phones it meant we had each others undivided attention. Guys, if you’re looking for a romantic getaway you’ve found the right spot!
We had a great evening in the cottage, followed by a cooked breakfast on the patio. We were told there was a BBQ there, so we made sure we packed some bacon, eggs and croissants for the next morning which went down a treat with some coffee. We even had the Upper Reach wine dog – Indi – join us. It’s safe to say she’s a bacon-lover 😉
Both Mr. Spittoon and myself would highly recommend this beautiful vineyard cottage if you’re looking for Swan Valley accommodation whether it’s a night getaway or a week-long holiday.
Being in the Swan Valley, it’s a great base to explore the region from. Plus you can easily walk to 5 cellar doors without going out to the main road, that includes the Upper Reach cellar door only a stone throw away! I would highly recommend starting your stay off with a tasting at the cellar door. We had a lovely tasting with Robbie who took us through the entire list, seeing as we didn’t have to go far – we thought why not do them all!
A photo posted by Travelling Corkscrew Wine Blog (@travellingcorkscrew) on
Added Extras
You’ve got to love those added extras! Robbie at the cellar door kindly informed us that there is the option of pre-ordering dinner from Broads Restaurant which is on the Upper Reach property. They’ll prepare the meal and have it at the cottage for you when you check in. All you need to do is heat it up and you have your own restaurant quality meal ready. A great option if you’re heading out after work and just want to relax as soon as you step in the door.
Broads can also organise a gourmet breakfast hamper for the mornings ($48 for two people). This will be delivered to your door and be full of tasty local produce for you to cook up at the cottage. Team that with a bottle of Upper Reach’s Sparkling Chardonnay and you have the perfect start to your day!
Cottage Accommodation Special
Upper Reach have kindly offered the TC readers a special discount for the cottage if you’re looking at a getaway between now and the end of August 2016. Stay 2 nights and get the third free. To view the rates please click here and to make a reservation please call the team on +61 (8) 9296 0078 and mention this deal. You won’t regret it!
Ooo it would make the perfect spot for your wedding anniversary Michelle! Congrats in advance too 🙂
It is such a lovely spot Nina – and so perfect having all that tasty Upper Reach wine so close by 😉
Looks like a great getaway! I might consider this for my wedding anniversary coming up soon 🙂
Sounds perfect! Thanks for the tour of this awesome little cottage. I wondered what it was like after we went to Upper Reach on the wine tour and would definitely consider spending a few days in this beautiful spot.