Oakover Grounds
80 Yukich Close, Middle Swan
Ph: (08) 9374 8000
www.oakovergrounds.com.au
A Day on the Grounds
Oakover Grounds in the heart of the Swan Valley is the place to bring your family and friends for a long and lazy day; there is just so much to do here. With its artisan coffee, award winning wine, café and beautiful grounds, there’s even a choice of venue for your next function, whether a low-key birthday or elegant wedding.
We were invited to check out the newest addition to the property, The Smokehouse. It’s a standalone building next to the lake that offers a more casual dining option to the onsite café.
The concept of The Smokehouse is unique. Currently open on the weekends, it specialises in smoked meat rolls, burgers and gourmet pizzas; designed for that super casual quick meal so you can get busy lazing the rest of your day away. The Barrel Bar sits adjacent, fully covered with picnic tables and a 10 metre bar serving a range of local beers including, Oakover’s Pale Ale, Grounds Lager and Oakover Cider, plus the full range of the Award Winning Oakover Wines produced by the Wine Maker of the Year 2023. Large café blinds can be pulled up or kept down depending on the weather; either way you still keep that ‘outdoor’ vibe. Otherwise make sure you pack your picnic blankets so you can pick up a meal and a few drinks before finding space to hang out lakeside on the grass, under the trees. The Barrel Bar is also available for functions and large group bookings.
Whilst you sit and socialise, your children can play on the grass with a selection of outdoor games and the trees and playgrounds are perfect for hide and seek. For those who are keen, the paddle boats on the lake will keep you entertained.
Head Chef John Shelly enjoys working with fresh, rustic and honest local produce, supported by gracious hospitality. Dining inside the industrial styled café you will enjoy welcoming cuisine paired with wines from the Estate. The menu incorporates welcoming and generous dishes from grazing plates to be shared amongst friends, to larger individual meals covering all tastes and dietary needs of today’s guests.
While we were there, we enjoyed several of the menu options including the barramundi with caramelised onion, lettuce, fennel, leek, shellfish broth, salsa Verdi, and north African spiced Amelia Park Lamb Chops. The Grilled beetroot with onion jam, roasted and smoked cherry tomatoes, broccolini, caraway poached carrot and butternut pumpkin was one of my favourite dishes. Actually, the cherry tomatoes are smoked onsite in the Smokehouse and feature across many of the dishes on the menu. They are rich in flavour and their smokiness brings another dimension to dishes we tried on the day. Nice touch Oakover.
Inside the main building, you will find the coffee house which features the FiORi coffee blends. On Friday’s and Saturday’s you can see one of the artisan roasters creating blends on-site. You are also able to taste a range of specially blended brews with our Coffee Tasting Paddle. Step further inside through the Swan Valley Market Place to the Cellar Door. Enjoy a tasting of The Oakover range; you will find something to suit your tastes. The Rosé is a favourite of mine with its clean fresh nose.
Oakover Grounds is open for breakfast and lunch, Wednesday to Sunday. They cater to families, friends, corporate events, or anyone who is looking for that welcoming, authentic and relaxed space to come and enjoy the day.
Oakover Grounds, so close and offering so much more.
By Sarah Schmitt
