Overview
We've been quaffing its cider for over a decade, both from the bottle and on tap at venues across Australia, and now, finally, you can enjoy Napoleone's drops straight from the source, at the Yarra Valley cidery's brand-new on-site tasting bar.
Having whipped up its first batch of cider back in 2008, this historic family-run fruit producer has opened the doors to its Orchard Bar, hidden among the fruit trees of the Napoleone Family Orchards in Coldstream. Here, a smartly repurposed shipping container bar by local designer Simon Wightwick is pouring a menu of fruit-driven libations, with signatures like Napoleone's classic apple and pear ciders, and the pear methode traditionelle taking centre stage.
There'll be limited-run creations breezing through the tap rotation — currently, the barrel-fermented Sherry Pie — while a lineup of guest ciders might include drops from the likes of Normandy's Eric Bordelet and Lost Pippin out of Tasmania. Harder apple-based delights come by way of an impressive calvados collection and 'field to shaker' cocktails like the Negroni di Napoleone — a riff on the classic starring Château de Breuil calvados from France. And of course, there's also fresh-pressed juice, straight from the farm.
Enjoy it all while kicking back in the Orchard Bar's lush, tree-fringed al fresco space, soaking up views through the orchard. As long as Coldstream sits within your government-approved 25-kilometre travel bubble, of course. There's no kitchen, but you will find a rotation of food trucks visiting every Saturday and Sunday, kicking off with the likes of Rai Thai and raclette stars Frencheese.
Find The Orchard Bar at Napoleone, 10 St Huberts Road, Coldstream. It's open from 10am–5pm Thursday–Monday.