Spuds to fine wines

A love of wine and good food has turned an empty block of former spud country into a vineyard and cafe in Victoria’s southwest. Between Warrnambool and Port Fairy, at Killarney, Shane and Ali Clancey founded Basalt Wines a decade ago and leased out their former family home to local chef Christopher Grace, who has been running his restaurant since last January. Shane’s love of wine grew from his time in front-of-house at Portofinos Restaurant, which he ran with his brother and chef, Andrew, in Port Fairy. This grew after he worked with some old Italian vignerons in Western Australia, reports Weekly Times Now.