On a recent trip to Hall we stopped in at Hops and Vine, a unique wine and craft beer cellar door in a gorgeous restored building that’s full of character. It’s also home to 130 local wines and 200 craft beers from family owned or small breweries in Australia and New Zealand.
Like most buildings in Hall, this one has a story to tell. The 117-year-old heritage building was previously used as a wheelwright’s shop, movie theatre, dance hall and more recently, an antique shop.
It’s now home to Hops and Vine, where you’ll find a huge selection of wine, craft beer, spirits and walls that are lined with gourmet food items and lots of great gift ideas. It’s like a lolly shop for adults, an instant feeling of excitement hits you when you enter and there are so many options, you just want one of everything.
The owners wanted the store to maintain a traditional look and feel so the reclaimed timber and recycled material have been used to update the interior, all handcrafted by local tradesman. It’s a gorgeous store so make sure you spend some time to appreciate the space when you visit.
We perused the shelves and were overwhelmed by the selection. The team at Hops and Vine are passionate about supporting local businesses and we spotted lots of products from Canberra businesses including Jono’s Jerky, Fudgemental, Barbell Biltong and Underground Spirits.
We started with a tasting of Mada Wines Syrah Nouveau, and a platter of gourmet food items. There’s a selection of pre-made platters you can choose from and you can enjoy it in store, or take it away to enjoy a picnic in the beautiful surroundings of Hall.
Next up was a selection of spirits. We tasted the coffee liqueur (amazing) and the toffee vodka from The Canberra Distillery, followed by the deliciously dangerous Apple Pie Moonshine from Baldwin Distillery Company. That stuff is so easy to drink and I can think of a few mean cocktail combos that it would work perfectly with….
Canberra really is producing the goods and there are so many incredible wine, craft beer, spirits and food options in the region. Hops and Vine are definitely doing their part to showcase some of them.
Make sure you give yourself an hour or so to browse and have a tasting while you’re there. The friendly staff will happily allow you to taste some of the wine, spirits and beer on offer. They’re full of knowledge so if you’re looking for something specific, I’m sure they’ll be able to help you.
There’s a real focus on community in Hall and the owners of Hops and Vine love to bring everyone together for fun family nights with food vans and beer and wine tastings.
Hops and Vine often host unique food and beverage events like the cheesemaking and wine tasting workshop. The events feature local food and beverage businesses but they often sell out so make sure you get your ticket early.
If you’re looking for a unique gift you can also find a selection of hampers at Hops and Vine. The hampers are available to order online and can be delivered for free to anywhere in Australia, or picked up from the store. The team are happy to make special hampers to meet all tastes and budget. So get in contact with them to let them know what you’re after!
They also have a beer advent calendar that will be available to order via the Hops and Vine website from 1st November. It’s $120 and includes 25 craft beers plus one surprise. It’s a perfect gift for the beer lovers in your life, and yes, it’s totally ok to purchase one for yourself if you’re one of those beer lovers.
There’s a long table in a room at the back of the store so you can also book the space for events and private tastings.
This unique store has a lot to offer so make sure you head out there to check it out for yourself. We walked out with a bottle of Four Wines Vineyard sangiovese and a giant stick of salami. We had some cheese and crackers at home so our Sunday afternoon was sorted!
Details
Address: 6a Victoria St, Hall
The 4th Hall Street Party is happening on Friday 26th October from 4-9pm. The street will come alive and there will be lots of different stalls and entertainment at the event.
This is a sponsored post but all opinions are the authors own.
Amelia Bidgood
Amelia is the Founder and Editor of Eat Canberra and the Founder and Managing Director of Eat Canberra Food Tours. She's a qualified journalist, presenter, freelance writer and also runs a boutique communications agency working with small business owners on all things social media, content creation and marketing. She's taught cheesemaking classes, judged hospitality and tourism awards, completed the WSET Level 1 Award In Wines, loves to cook and has travelled to 23 countries. She's also passionate about mental health and has recently started studying to become a Counsellor.