Overview
If there's one food experience that's just as good enjoyed on your couch as in any fancy restaurant, it's a good old-fashioned cheese and wine session. A dabble in some gourmet dairy, matched with some crackers and a glass or two of vino — it's a much-loved culinary ritual that not even lockdown can mess with. And there are some Melbourne suppliers that can deliver the whole cheesy, booze-matched situation directly to you, with just a few clicks of a button. Whether you've got a thing for d'affinois, are craving some camembert, or only have eyes for the cheddar, we've found a cheese and wine delivery service to suit. Clear off that coffee table and check out these local spots delivering wine and cheese o'clock to your couch.
HIGH CHEESE BY THE WESTIN
The Westin's famed High Cheese feasts have been reimagined for lockdown, now available as elegant at-home packs delivered via Providoor. Designed for two ($189), this one's a collaborative, cheese-filled high tea, featuring a selection of Melbourne favourites. There's a pop-up high tea stand, to be loaded up with sweet and savoury cheese creations from both The Westin's kitchen and Prahran's Maker & Monger. Think, oozy baked camembert with crusty bread, gouda scones with caramelised apricot butter and creamy Basque-style cheesecake. And on the drinks front, you've got a 1.5-litre pack of spicy mulled wine from Bar Clara's new side project Scarlet & Clove. The whole tasty haul comes packed in a Maker & Monger tote bag that's yours to keep.
How much? $189. Order here.
THAT'S AMORE
It's one of the best local cheese producers in the biz, but That's Amore is proving it's also got some chops when it comes to pairing libations with those cheesy delights. The company has created a range of gourmet gift boxes available for home delivery, including a handful of drinks-matched options that are primed for lockdown. If vino is the go, you'll find both a classic wine and cheese box, and a premium edition, each showcasing That's Amore signatures like the crumbly buffalotto, a soft-rind caciotta or the aptly named newcomer, Isolation Blue. You'll even get to choose which Italian wine's included in your stash, with options like Il Palazzo's chianti and a Salatin pinot grigio. Gourmet crackers round out the fun.
How much? $70–90. Order here.
HANDPICKED WINES X MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
This year's Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has moved to a virtual format, but you can rest easy because it's bringing the cinema candy bar to your place, too. MIFF has teamed up with Handpicked Wines to create two movie-friendly wine and cheese boxes, available for next-day delivery across Melbourne. There's a classic pack ($80) and a luxe edition ($195), each starring vino from top local regions like the Mornington Peninsula and the Yarra Valley. To match, you'll find gourmet crackers and a couple of top-notch cheese options, such as some ashed chèvre from Meredith, a wedge of L'Artisan's Mountain Man, or the cloth-bound cheddar from Tassie's Pyengana. It all comes boxed and ready to devour, with the option of adding on a curated MIFF film bundle.
How much? $80–195. Order here.
MCCOPPINS HAWTHORN
If you've got a penchant for pick-and-mix snacking, consider McCoppins' Hawthorn store a cheese board gold mine. The grocer has an impressive collection of deli goods available via its online shop, featuring cheese, meats, dips, olives and scores of other accompaniments, sourced from Australia and abroad. You'll find everything from crumbly Bay of Fires cheddar and Milawa's goat's camembert through to the grape skin-coated Occelli tetsun de barolo out of Italy. And to match, there's a hefty range of booze, including lots of local and international wines for all budgets. Stick closer to home with something like a chardonnay from the Yarra Valley's TarraWarra Estate, or head to Europe by way of an Italian sangiovese. Select suburbs can score express delivery on their orders, seven days a week.
How much? Price per item. Order here.
MILK THE COW
Veteran of the cheese and booze match-making game, Milk the Cow is a cheese-scoffing destination of choice for many Melburnians. And now, it's bringing all that expertise to your house, with a series of hampers available now for home delivery. For the full experience, opt for one of those featuring paired beverages, based around specific varieties like rosé, dessert wine or even whisky. The Australian Wine and Cheese hamper ($150) is packed with local goodies, like the Yarra Valley's Airlie Bank pinot noir and fermier cheese from L'Artisan. Or, you might be taken by the boutique beer-matched combo ($135), starring a selection of craft brews alongside the likes of Kris Lloyd camembert and a gouda from the Netherlands. And if you live close to either store, you'll even score free delivery.
How much? $135–210. Order here.
Sarah Pannell
KING & GODFREE
Legendary Italian grocer King & Godfree is basically a one-stop-shop for all your iso feasting needs, handily delivered to your doorstep. Especially if cheese and vino are at the top of your shopping list. The online store has a dreamy collection of deli goods to browse and buy, as well as a couple of antipasto boxes ($75–110) loaded with cheese, salumi, olives, house pickles, fresh baguette and more. Maximum snackage, minimal decision-making. To take it all to the next level, simply finish off your order with a boozy addition from King & Godfree's wine selection. There's an impressive lineup of drops from both Australia and Italy, with varietals to suit every palate. Perhaps a 2017 Monte Tondo valpolicella from Veneto for some Euro flair?
How much? Antipasto boxes from $75. Order here.
AUSTIN'S X L'ARTISAN
Moorabool Valley winery Austin's has combined talents with renowned French-style cheesemaker L'Artisan and Geelong specialty grocer Fresh Food Merchant. The result? A line of lockdown-friendly cheese and wine packs guaranteed to step up your cheese board game and boost your mood. There are five packs to choose from, championing different wine styles and showcasing each drop's best cheese matches. Bunker down with the trio of reds, paired with three wedges of L'Artisan's finest ($130), or perhaps try a broader range of Austin's vino alongside four cheeses and gourmet accompaniments ($199). Whichever pack you choose, you'll be digging into some top-notch local goodies and supporting a couple of great Victorian producers in the process.
How much? $85–199. Over here.
Top image: Milk The Cow