IWFS WA’s Weekend trip to the Batista Estate in Manjimup

In the early morning of Saturday, May 4 2013, a good two dozen members and guests of our Chapter boarded a bus which was to bring them for a weekend trip to the South West Corner of Western Australia. After a welcome mid-trip break at the historic “Bush and Bull” Tavern in Boyanup, we arrived at our destination, the privately owned “Batista” Estate, around lunch time, where we were greeted by owner Bob Peruch, a most passionate Italian, wine maker, chef and singer, who welcomed us with a still raw but delightfully refreshing sparkling wine.

The following very long luncheon was then a feast of local produce, most of it home grown or home produced, which included antipasti of salami, roasted capsicum, fetta cheese, olives and endless slices of freshly baked crunchy bread. This was followed by another very exclusive local speciality; home grown and lovingly nurtured by Bob in his very large freshwater pond: Marron! They are freshwater lobster, which are inherent to Western Australia and, with their sweet flesh just lightly grilled with garlic butter, tasted absolutely divine. The main course was a local pork cutlet served with many tasty vegetables grown in Bob’s garden. Ending this feast were a selection of Bob’s own cheeses as well as a beautiful “affogato”; a real feast which only a consuming and spirited Italian can produce.

Throughout the meal we were introduced to a whole range of Batista’s wines. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot all grow very well in sufficiently drained quartz and ironstone gravelly soil types. They perform admirably without irrigation, are cane pruned, and a near-to organic regime is adopted during vine husbandry. While all wines are distinct and very pleasant, the outstanding drop is the rich, full and most rewarding Pinot Noir which has received acclaim not only in Australia but on a world-wide basis.

As a thank you for all their efforts, President Ulrich Kunzmann presented Bob and his team with a framed certificate of appreciation.

It was already early evening when we boarded the bus again, who brought us to the Karri Forrest Motel in nearby Pemberton where we spent a restful evening and night.

The next morning we drove to the very picturesque “Fonti Pool” near Manjimup where we met Bob again and he cooked for us, in the middle of brightly coloured autumn trees, a hearty Barbeque breakfast, most appropriately complemented by a glass of “Prosecco”.

After an official thank you to our Michael Tamburri, who had organised the whole trip, we had a relaxing drive back to Perth.