With lockdown restrictions, social distancing, at home teaching and hundreds of Zoom calls swirling around us these days, it feels strange to be writing about the joy of being ‘contained’, but this is a very different type of isolation and one we highly recommend to everyone!
Right before COVID-19 hit, us gals at The Vibe Tribe were lucky to visit Seville Estate in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley… a cheeky little night away from home, kids, pets, responsibilities under the guise of a ‘work trip’, we found this stunning winery who have cleverly capitalised on their wide-open spaces and gorgeous scenery. Set amongst tall gum trees with kookaburras laughing from the branches, a stunning lake that is home to a large flock of ducks, native bushland and grapevines bursting with the buds that will eventually produce the estate’s signature range of delicious wines, Seville Estate has partnered with ‘Contained’ and set up a stunning pop-up, boutique accommodation experience.
Contained convert shipping containers into eco-luxury hotels, and place them in locations such as Seville Estate, for a restricted period of time. With a focus on the surrounding environment, they style their containers accordingly – we had both containers which were next to each other (separated by hay bales for added privacy) and each was unique in their own way but followed a similar theme of modern rustic chic. Think soft linens, wood, leather and suede, complimenting textures, natural earthy tones and matte black hardware – and although cosy, every square meter of space was utilised to maximise luxury and comfort whilst also housing all the necessities.
A comfortable queen bed; sitting area inside; a kitchenette with ample storage, bench and fridge space; and an ensuite bathroom with strong water pressure and steaming hot water is really all you need from any hotel room, but they also provide breakfast in the fridge for the next day, the required utensils, crockery and glassware; a good music speaker system, hairdryer, bug spray, blankets, bathrobes and the all-important air conditioning that reached every corner. However, the beauty of this particular accommodation is that not only do you get all of that, but you also have a wide covered front deck with soft lounge seating to relax outside and soak up the view of the lake and vineyard right on your doorstep. If this is ‘glamping’, then we are converts…
We set up outside on the deck for a lazy afternoon of drinking wine, and enjoying antipasto purchased from the local area; went for a stroll around the estate, and wandered up to the main building of Seville Estate which houses their newly renovated restaurant, event space and cellar door. The views of the rolling vineyards from up here are simply breathtaking, and the interior of the restaurant has been redone beautifully with clean, minimalist whites and creams, woods and natural decor. The staff were lovely, approachable and knowledgeable about the region and the wines they make, and they suggested we take their virtual wine tasting tour.
Now, us girls have indulged in many wine tastings in our lives, but this was a new experience for all of us – we were told to put on virtual reality goggles and were then taken on a virtual hot air balloon ride over Victoria – floating from region to region, learning about the differences and wine varieties of each area; stopping to taste a glass of each wine in between (thankfully the wine was real!) and then we moved on to a tasting of their own estate wines. As part of the overnight stay, Seville Estate pop a bottle of wine into each of the container fridges so we knew we had that to look forward to, however that didn’t stop us from stocking up on several bottles that were available to purchase through their cellar door. Each seemed to be better than the last, which is testament to the fact they are consistently awarded a 5 star James Halliday rating on their range, and they have won several wine awards.
Taking our bottles back to our container, we settled in to watch the sunset over the trees and of course, we had to indulge in the outdoor hot tub that was set up just behind our accommodation. As darkness fell over Seville, the rest of our night was one of peaceful contentment – listening to music, chatting, eating and drinking well into the night. Several times we caught ourselves taking deep breaths, and noticing periods of comfortable silence as we leant into this tiny slice of country relaxation and felt the stresses of everyday life lifted for an evening. There was something so decadent and joyful about escaping to a stunning sanctuary amongst the trees, even if was just for one night. It was more than enough to wake up the next morning feeling refreshed and re-energised.
Even when the Contained accommodation popup comes to a close, Seville Estate is a winery worth visiting in its own right, and we cannot wait to return to enjoy dinner and a cheeky crisp chardonnay. This would be a perfect wedding venue, and keep in mind they do also offer their own accommodation options at their Seville Homestead or the Vineyard Apartments, so you can stay on the estate all year round.
We are sure Contained will be popping up at Seville Estate again in the future, but until then – you can find their current locations on their website. For anyone needing a little break, a reset, some time away from the hustle and bustle – this is what you have been searching for.
https://www.sevilleestate.com.au/
https://contained.com.au/
With lockdown restrictions, social distancing, at home teaching and hundreds of Zoom calls swirling around us these days, it feels strange to be writing about the joy of being ‘contained’, but this is a very different type of isolation and one we highly recommend to everyone!
Right before COVID-19 hit, us gals at The Vibe Tribe were lucky to visit Seville Estate in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley… a cheeky little night away from home, kids, pets, responsibilities under the guise of a ‘work trip’, we found this stunning winery who have cleverly capitalised on their wide-open spaces and gorgeous scenery. Set amongst tall gum trees with kookaburras laughing from the branches, a stunning lake that is home to a large flock of ducks, native bushland and grapevines bursting with the buds that will eventually produce the estate’s signature range of delicious wines, Seville Estate has partnered with ‘Contained’ and set up a stunning pop-up, boutique accommodation experience.
Contained convert shipping containers into eco-luxury hotels, and place them in locations such as Seville Estate, for a restricted period of time. With a focus on the surrounding environment, they style their containers accordingly – we had both containers which were next to each other (separated by hay bales for added privacy) and each was unique in their own way but followed a similar theme of modern rustic chic. Think soft linens, wood, leather and suede, complimenting textures, natural earthy tones and matte black hardware – and although cosy, every square meter of space was utilised to maximise luxury and comfort whilst also housing all the necessities.
A comfortable queen bed; sitting area inside; a kitchenette with ample storage, bench and fridge space; and an ensuite bathroom with strong water pressure and steaming hot water is really all you need from any hotel room, but they also provide breakfast in the fridge for the next day, the required utensils, crockery and glassware; a good music speaker system, hairdryer, bug spray, blankets, bathrobes and the all-important air conditioning that reached every corner. However, the beauty of this particular accommodation is that not only do you get all of that, but you also have a wide covered front deck with soft lounge seating to relax outside and soak up the view of the lake and vineyard right on your doorstep. If this is ‘glamping’, then we are converts…
We set up outside on the deck for a lazy afternoon of drinking wine, and enjoying antipasto purchased from the local area; went for a stroll around the estate, and wandered up to the main building of Seville Estate which houses their newly renovated restaurant, event space and cellar door. The views of the rolling vineyards from up here are simply breathtaking, and the interior of the restaurant has been redone beautifully with clean, minimalist whites and creams, woods and natural decor. The staff were lovely, approachable and knowledgeable about the region and the wines they make, and they suggested we take their virtual wine tasting tour.
Now, us girls have indulged in many wine tastings in our lives, but this was a new experience for all of us – we were told to put on virtual reality goggles and were then taken on a virtual hot air balloon ride over Victoria – floating from region to region, learning about the differences and wine varieties of each area; stopping to taste a glass of each wine in between (thankfully the wine was real!) and then we moved on to a tasting of their own estate wines. As part of the overnight stay, Seville Estate pop a bottle of wine into each of the container fridges so we knew we had that to look forward to, however that didn’t stop us from stocking up on several bottles that were available to purchase through their cellar door. Each seemed to be better than the last, which is testament to the fact they are consistently awarded a 5 star James Halliday rating on their range, and they have won several wine awards.
Taking our bottles back to our container, we settled in to watch the sunset over the trees and of course, we had to indulge in the outdoor hot tub that was set up just behind our accommodation. As darkness fell over Seville, the rest of our night was one of peaceful contentment – listening to music, chatting, eating and drinking well into the night. Several times we caught ourselves taking deep breaths, and noticing periods of comfortable silence as we leant into this tiny slice of country relaxation and felt the stresses of everyday life lifted for an evening. There was something so decadent and joyful about escaping to a stunning sanctuary amongst the trees, even if was just for one night. It was more than enough to wake up the next morning feeling refreshed and re-energised.
Even when the Contained accommodation popup comes to a close, Seville Estate is a winery worth visiting in its own right, and we cannot wait to return to enjoy dinner and a cheeky crisp chardonnay. This would be a perfect wedding venue, and keep in mind they do also offer their own accommodation options at their Seville Homestead or the Vineyard Apartments, so you can stay on the estate all year round.
We are sure Contained will be popping up at Seville Estate again in the future, but until then – you can find their current locations on their website. For anyone needing a little break, a reset, some time away from the hustle and bustle – this is what you have been searching for.
https://www.sevilleestate.com.au/
https://contained.com.au/
