The fruits of love

What do you do when you find yourself with 32 hectares in a premium wine growing region blessed with iron-rich black volcanic soil?

For Toby Fowler-Oates and husband Chris Cawkwell, the answer was obvious.

“We thought let’s grow grapes and make wine and it kind of went from there,” Fowler-Oates said.

“We’ve kind of fallen into it by providence and just let that compass guide us.”

Undeterred by their lack of experience, the duo forged ahead and planted the vineyards on the property toward the end of 2018, calling on the help of industry consultants and experts to ensure the operation’s success.

“We went ahead scared and terrified that we were probably going to stuff up and make mistakes along the way.”

“What you don’t know, you need to be smart enough to talk to people that do know.”

“You listen to people with decades of knowledge who, thankfully in the district, are really generous with their advice.

“You take all that onboard…and you offer something in return.”

The outcome is Hounds of the Vine, a small boutique family-run vineyard, winery and cellar door nestled amongst the sloping hills of the peninsula.

The venue has an intimate 55-person capacity and is fit out with quirky and eclectic pieces that reflect the personalities and travels of its owners.

A carefully curated soundtrack of bossa nova, jazz and soul tunes completes the space.

“We wanted a place that was smaller, tranquil, cosy, with a very chilled out vibe where you can sit with family and friends, enjoy nature, enjoy looking across the vineyard and, in particular, commune with farm animals.”

Visitors can pet and enjoy the company of the property’s cows, Tilly and Wednesday, and goats, Hagrid and Errol, and admire the peacocks, Oscar and Bosie.

“Animals are very loving and they’re very open and honest with their emotions.”

“Animals that…have been well-raised with loving owners exude a really beautiful energy of calmness and love.

“If you’re there, enjoying yourself and you’re surrounded by that energy, it has an incredibly tranquil, calming effect on you, particularly with the, at times, hideous world that we live in with that’s happening internationally rushing around us all the time.

“It gives you a sense of detaching from that and being in a space where all that noise, all that toxicity, for a few hours, is gone.”

And, of course, there are hounds. Four of them.

“We are great hound lovers, particularly whippets and Italian greyhounds,” Fowler-Oates said.

“We’ve had so many over the years that have just been beautiful companions.

“We thought that given our interest in them and given how much of an important part of our lives they are, that honouring them in the name of the vineyard…was a really interesting thing to do.”

Visitors to Hounds of the Vine are also able to bring their own dog with them.

There, Fowler-Oates said, they will be fully welcomed.

The wines produced from the property’s vineyards are created in small batches by winemaker, Will Derham of Banks Road Vineyard situated in Marcus Hill.

From the beginning, quality has been the focus.

“For a young winery, the quality is exceptional and the depth in some of the wines, for such a young age, is already showing signs of being exceptional,” Fowler-Oates said.

He puts Hounds of the Vine’s early success down to two factors.

“We’re on the part of the peninsula, like Scotchmans Hill, that’s got the black volcanic soil which is incredibly fertile.

“And the other thing I put it down to is doing things by the book, executing really well and not cutting any corners even though it may be more expensive.

“You’ve got to have quality, or you haven’t got anything.”

The wine selection is complemented by a small menu that includes grazing platters, house-made pâté and a variety of cheeses.

Hounds of the Vine is at 82-110 Church Rd, Bellarine and is open 11am-5pm, Thursday through Sunday.

To find out more, visit houndsofthevine.com.au.