Five minutes with Sarah Collingwood, Four Winds Vineyard

Who are you?

Sarah Collingwood, CEO of Four Winds Vineyard.

Tell me about Four Winds

Four Winds is my family’s vineyard, winery and cellar door in Murrumbateman. We sell woodfired pizzas and wine at the cellar door. My family has been here for around 26 years, and my husband John and I have been looking after the business for about 15 years.

It’s a really nice place, and I feel really lucky that we get to be part of this community.

How did you get involved in the hospitality industry?

I’d first helped Mum and Dad plant out the winery when I finished school, and that helped me decide pretty quickly that I didn’t want to be a farmer! So I moved away and did all the fun things, different jobs and lived in different places.

In 2010, Mum and Dad needed a bit of help, so we went to give them a hand, and now, all these years later, we’re still here! It wasn’t part of our plan, but once we moved back, we just really enjoyed the farm and the creativity and ability for autonomy that a small business allows. And it’s a great place to raise our kids.

What is your winemaking philosophy?

One that we’ve applied to the business is simplicity. We try not to have too much intervention both in the vineyard and the winery. We’re trying to make sure we do what’s necessary to nurture the grapes and express their characters, but we’re not meddling too much.

What is your favourite ingredient when cooking?

Not an ingredient but equipment: I use the slow cooker a lot. I love that feeling of putting something on in the morning and coming back at the end of the day. It smells incredible, and it’s already done, so you can feel lovely, smug, and relaxed about that!

What’s an underrated Canberra region venue that you love?

Grazing – we go there for special occasions. Because it’s out in Gundaroo, people don’t think of it so much. There are also a few new shops in Murrumbateman, like Clementine Bakery, and having those things in the village is so nice.

Who do you admire in the Canberra food and wine scene?

There’s a lovely, strong network of women in winemaking in the area, such as Sue Bruce from Poacher’s Pantry, Tanya Olinder from Shaw, Steph Helm, and Julie Chitty at Barton Estate. These women come together pretty regularly and share information and help each other out. There’s great community in our industry. I don’t feel a sense of competition but rather a sense of collaboration. We’re helpful and lift each other.

Where’s the best place for a drink in Canberra?

I really like Rizla in town; they’ve got a great list. Canberra Wine and Spirits Merchants is a great bottle shop – they’ve got a lovely range of local wines as well.

Who is your dream dinner party guest, and what would you make them?

There are so many amazing things happening in American politics, so I’d probably invite Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris.

I’d make them a salad from the Community Cookbook. I really love salads

What is your current food obsession?

I’ve been making a lot of noodle salads. It feels like I can get it over the line with the family because it’s not just a salad; you can pretend it’s noodles. There’s a great udon noodle and eggplant salad or a wombok salad with crispy noodles.

What’s the best thing you ate this week?

John cooked a roast lamb last night – it was delicious. We had all the trimmings with mint sauce.

What’s a food that reminds you of your childhood?

Spaghetti Bolognese, every Sunday night. We still have it a lot. My kids totally love it.

Where do you shop for wine?

Ainslie Cellars or Canberra Wine and Spirits. I’m trying to buy wines made by women, so I often buy them online because I’m looking for something specific.

When you can’t be bothered to cook for yourself, where do you go and what do you eat?

Usually, Indian takeaway from Taj Agra. We always order garlic naan, but we try to mix up all the other dishes, so we try something new. We also really like Briscola. They have delicious tiramisu.

Where are you travelling next?

We are going to Yackandandah to ride the Indigo Epic trail, which is a loop between Yackandandah and Beechworth. Active holidays are definitely our go-to, especially as our kiddos are getting more capable. We do as much bike riding, climbing and hiking as we can.

Tell me something you love about living in the Canberra Region

The bike trails – being able to go to Stromlo, Bruce Ridge and Majura. We’re so spoilt for options and we love bike riding. It’s how John and I met!

What TV show are you watching right now?

Slow Horses. It’s a British drama that has some lovely, flawed characters. It makes them so believable and watchable: the British seem to do flawed characters so well.

An easy one to finish – what’s your go-to coffee order?

Cappuccino.

Four Winds Vineyard is located at 9 Patemans Lane, Murrumbateman. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Riotact.