Sir Paz Estate

The Zapris family left behind a strong family tradition of winemaking when they arrived in Australia from Greece around 65 years ago. John Zapris wanted to continue that legacy, passed onto him by his father, Evangelos Zapris. So, in 1997, he established Sir Paz Estate, a boutique winery in the hills of the Yarra Valley.

As one of the highest altitude wineries in the region, a visit to this estate and its cellar door comes with sweeping views – best enjoyed over a meal on the large al fresco deck while tasting some of Sir Paz Estate’s award-winning drops.

The specialties here are shiraz, merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and sparkling chardonnay. Wines are handcrafted, hand-picked and hand-pruned, using little filtration and gentle extraction techniques in the winemaking process. The star of the show is the award-winning 2007 shiraz, which has smoky cherry and plum aromas and a liquorice brown-sugar finish – perfect for a winter’s day.

The estate’s restaurant is led by head chef Kevin Cerquiglini (Donovan’s St Kilda), who has designed a menu packed with rustic favourites like woodfired pizzas, Greek slow-cooked lamb shoulder with lemony potatoes, and cheese and charcuterie boards to share.