Just arrived: Paul and Jan on arrival at Squires Winery.
Dive into the heart of Goulburn Valley’s culinary scene with Jan and Paul Phillips, our newest columnists at The News. Every Friday, the pair will serve our readers with their knowledge of our communities’ restaurants, cafés and pubs — one plate at a time.
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What a great weekend we had. One of the highlights was our time at Squires Winery near Bundalong.
The superb food and wine and wonderful ambience made the experience unforgettable.
Travelling in style: Jan and Paul travelled by water to visit Squires Winery.
Welcomed: Jan and Paul enjoyed their visit to Squires Winery and were impressed with the welcoming staff. Pictured are Squires service manager Karen Earle, Jan Phillips, Squires Winery owner Paul Squires and Paul Phillips.
Food hits the mark: A menu of dishes to please any patron.
While enjoying lunch with friends is always great, the Squires experience elevated it to another level.
Squires Winery is at Esmond, near Bundalong on the Murray Valley Hwy.
There are two ways to get there. You can enjoy a scenic drive from Shepparton that takes just over an hour. Or kick back on a picturesque boat ride along the Ovens River. (You do need a boat for this one; luckily for us, we have generous friends.)
Lunch under the majestic gum trees by the river was simply beautiful, with a fantastic variety of food and wine on offer.
Our group of nine thoroughly enjoyed the meals, with highlights including a mouthwatering calamari salad, a terrific pasta dish, a satisfying steak sandwich and the best Parmesan herb chips.
You could visit just for the chips!
The service was perfect, delivered with professionalism, promptness and fun.
Afterwards, we had the pleasure of meeting Paul Squires, who shared a brief history of the business and its aspirations.
Starting a venture during the COVID-19 pandemic was undoubtedly bold, but the family has created a place with undeniable charm and allure — exactly as Paul envisioned.
From the converted tractor shed that greets you on arrival to the inviting cellar door area and the serene setting under the river gums, every aspect wows you.
The staff and chef have been there since the beginning, contributing to the warm, familial atmosphere of the place.
Paul rightfully credits his team for the success the restaurant has achieved.
Every aspect of this day was wonderful.
The pricing of the wine and food was surprisingly reasonable; we even questioned whether we had paid enough for the quality we received.
The venue was fantastic, and sharing the experience with great friends made it even more memorable.
Value for money, great service, friendly atmosphere — and the locals love it.
Food pricing for Squires Winery, rated by Jan and Paul: $$
(Expensive $$$, moderate $$ good value $)
Open Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm.
Choices: There are salad dishes for the healthy foodie.
Yummy potatoes: Jan says the Parmesan chips alone are worth the trip to Squires Winery.
Bite-sized: Food to share with friends.
Perfect combination: Soak up nature, food and a cold drink.
