Queenscliff is a holiday town on the Bellarine Peninsula whose grand hotels and houses were originally built for the wealthier crust of 19th century Melbourne society to play around in. Today several of the hotels remain, although a fire long ago reduced The Grand to a small, but not inconsiderable, reflection of its former glory. The Ozone is a handsome hotel overlooking the ocean whose owners have taken great pride in assembling one of country Victoria’s better wine lists. It’s not overly large, but features a healthy representation from local vineyards, several of which like Innisfail and Barrabool make delightful regional wines that are hard to find in the major cities. The list is imaginative and varied, combining a large number of well-known safer options with a healthy smattering of interesting and obscure labels, such as Pizzini’s Sangiovese, Huia Pinot Gris and Bellavista Cuvee Brut. Furthermore, its prices aren’t that far removed from retail, so make sure somebody else is driving you home.
