Honour Avenue is currently closed weekends and public holidays to non-resident traffic. To access Mount Macedon open gardens, use the free shuttle bus transport, included with your pre-purchased garden entry ticket.
e: vic@mrsc.vic.gov.au
p: 1800 244 711

A Rustic Beef Ragu Recipe Courtesy of Mount Towrong Vineyard

Posted on May 1 2020 in Eat & Drink
< Back to Blog

When it’s cold and misty outdoors, Mount Towrong Vineyard’s fireplace is always roaring and their small, cosy cellar door is an inviting space to experience pure gourmet bliss.

The cellar door at Mount Towrong Vineyard is renowned for cool climate Italian varietal wines that match perfectly with rustic Italian cuisine.

To give you a taste of the Mount Towrong-vibe, they’ve shared a hearty winter Beef Ragu recipe to try at home. And when it’s safe again to roam, you can venture up Mount Macedon to discover this gem of a cellar door and vineyard yourself.

Mount Towrong beef ragu recipe

Notes: Mount Towrong suggest using this ragu with a pasta-like rigatoni or orecchiette and to enjoy it with their Mount Towrong Negroamaro (available from their online store). So treat yourself to that bottle of wine (or two) and write up your shopping list for a special weekend of winter slow cooking.

Ingredients

  • 1kg of diced chuck beef
  • 1/4 cup of all-purpose oil
  • 1 brown onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 stick of celery
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 bottle of Mount Towrong Negroamaro red wine
  • 1x 400g crushed tomato tin
  • 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1. Beef Ragu 2. Mount Towrong Vineyard 3. Mount Towrong Negroamaro

Method

  1. Soak beef in half the bottle of Negroamaro red wine for 24 hours.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy-based saucepan over high heat. Cook the beef for 2–3 minutes each side or until browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to low. Add the remaining oil, onion and garlic and cook for 6–8 minutes or until softened. Then, add the carrots and celery and cook until soft.
  4. Increase the heat to high. Add the wine and cook by scraping the bottom of the pan for 2–3 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half.
  5. Add the water, tomatoes, tomato paste and sugar and stir to combine. Return the beef to the pan, cover with a tight-fitting lid, transfer to the oven and roast for 2 hours (or slow simmer on stovetop).
  6. Take ragu out of the oven and serve with pasta of your choice (we like to use Orecchiette or Rigatoni).

Pour yourself a glass of Mount Towrong Vineyard Negroamaro and enjoy!

PS. Use promo code: online15 for 15% off while offer lasts.

About Mount Towrong Vineyard

Mount Towrong Vineyard is a small, family-owned vineyard situated 600m above sea level between the slopes of Mount Macedon and Mount Towrong.

Migrating from the Veneto region of Italy, the Cremasco family brought with them their love of food and wine, and this passion continues today.

George and Deirdre began planting in 1996, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In 1999, Nebbiolo and in 2005, Prosecco.

They practice sustainable farming techniques to harvest high-quality fruit with a low yield. All grapes are hand-picked and vines are hand pruned.

Cellar door opening hours and online store

The Mount Towrong cellar door is usually open weekends 10am to 5pm (however is currently closed during COVID-19 travel restrictions).

Do yourself a favour and treat yourself to their beautiful Italian wine varietals online @ https://www.mounttowrong.com.au/

Share your ragu love

Feel free to comment below about your beef ragu cook up. We’d also love to see pics of your delicious Mount Towrong Beef Ragu. Use the #macedonrangesnaturallycool on Instagram or share a pic on our Facebook page @macedonrangesnaturallycool.

Posted on May 1 2020 in Eat & Drink

More reads like this one
6 Jun

6 Ripper Country Pies for Pastry Buffs

Take your tastebuds to pastry heaven with this pie-themed road trip through the Macedon Ranges. There's everything from traditional pork pies to American barbecue-style pies on a vineyard to historic country bakeries. One word - YUM.
Eat & Drink See & Do
27 Nov

A Locals Guide to the Best Macedon Ranges Brekkies

Eat & Drink See & Do
Find out what’s happening in the Macedon Ranges this month
See what’s on Sign up for our newsletter

Catch up with us on social media.