LOCATIONBywong wine country, about 30 minutes from Civic.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIABywong winery, Koonaburra, has achieved some modest accomplishments in the short time that it has been producing wines. Beginning with a humble Sauvignon Blanc in 2002, the Koonaburra range has been extended to include regional favourites including Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir with a handful of award-winning Rieslings along the way. Off the back of this success, owner/winemaker Nico Duynhoven established a small restaurant/café to indulge in his other love – cooking. Influenced partly by his Dutch heritage, his menu offers Modern Australian/European dishes to which he adds a heavy Asian influence.
The spice this predominantly-Indonesian persuasion adds, has become a popular niche with locals as well as Canberra residents who file in over the weekends. Whether it is to enjoy a creamy curry, an Asian spiced meat dish, a classic vegetable pot pie or to taste Koonaburra’s silver medal-winning Ice Wine Riesling, customers enjoy their visits so much they often return. Having recently installed a wood-fired oven, Nico’s now offers a range of homemade pizzas to eat in or take away. Nico’s friendly and inviting disposition means he will often join friendly locals for a chat and will no doubt recommend a bottle of sparkling Merlot – the only varietal of this type in the district. The future is bright for this little winery and as Nico admits, the only problem with all this success is that everyone tries to copy!
Nick Hadland, April 2010