UNTIL at least early February, Lerida Estate is operating an easy-going, pop-up wine bar at the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, Regatta Point. It’s covid-safe. It’s alfresco. It’s picturesque. It’s Lerida by the Lake.

Lerida Estate is one of the region’s most well-known and popular cool-climate wineries, with its 2019 shiraz winning the Best Shiraz and Best Red in show at the 2020 NSW Wine Awards. 

For the pop-up, Lerida Estate has set up large wine barrels and seating on the deck overlooking “that fabulous view” directly in front of the Captain Cook Jet (operating hours 11am to 2pm) and presenting a tasting experience of its top wines. 

On the food front, Lerida has partnered with The Italian Place, in Braddon, which has curated antipasto boxes with quality meats, cheeses, olives and more. 

My favorite meat was the thinly sliced prosciutto. It was melt-in-the-mouth, delicate, slightly sweet, and perfectly salty. A cracking salami puts our tastebuds on high alert. A considered selection of cheeses – some soft and some hard – complemented the wines. 

The semi-dried olives were punchy and the sundried tomatoes plump and juicy (I’m not a fan of over-dried tomatoes, which are uncomfortably chewy).

With the antipasto we enjoyed a five-wine tasting, starting with a vibrant 2021 riesling, bursting with lemon zest and, although full-flavoured, not overpowering.

We celebrated the 2021 Cullerin Chardonnay, somewhat complex but not overly oaky.

The rose (2021) is a true spring summer drop that was well finished and super easy on the palate (made a note to order a case).

The two reds included the 2021 Cullerin Pinot Noir – ruby red, smooth, and elegant. The tasting topped off with the multiple award-winning 2019 Canberra District Shiraz, which Lerida is particularly proud of. 

After the tasting we bought a bottle (or two) and relaxed, enjoying the view and people watching, especially the little ones who love playing on the lawn sloping to the water’s edge).

Lerida Estate provides an option to book a personal, one-hour tasting through Eventbrite (which guarantees a spot), from noon to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and noon to 8pm, Friday to Sunday. It costs $64.39 for two, which includes the five wines and antipasto meats and cheeses.

Another option is to rock up and buy a bottle, a pre-prepared takeaway antipasto box ($30) and a bottle and find a possie on the deck (seats 26) or on the lawns. Estate wine is $45 by the bottle and Cullerin Wines $60 by the bottle. Wine by the glass is $14.

If the weather turns, there are places to sit inside, alongside the temporary Lerida Bar.