Winery Kitchen

In early 2020, the world changed almost overnight.

COVID-19 brought isolation, loss and disruption into people’s homes, businesses and communities. Many people lost loved ones. Many lost work, routine, direction and a sense of purpose.

For Hugh and Raquel, who were still only three years into building Weathercraft, that period came with another blow. The Black Summer bushfires had already wreaked havoc across New South Wales and north-east Victoria, and bushfire smoke had compromised their entire vintage, meaning they lost a whole crop before the pandemic had even fully taken hold. With much of their wine being sold through restaurants at the time, COVID-19 brought the business to a near standstill.

The couple were unsure if their wine business would survive.

Unable to make wine that year, and conscious that so many people were stuck at home looking for small moments of comfort, Raquel turned to food as a way to stay connected.

Drawing on her Spanish heritage and the dishes she grew up with, Raquel began sharing simple, generous recipes that people could cook at home and enjoy with good wine. The Winery Kitchen became a way to bring warmth, memory and a sense of togetherness to the table, even when gathering in person was not possible.

Now, in 2026, with Weathercraft firmly established within the Beechworth wine community, Raquel continues to share recipes with wine club members and through her recipe blog. The Winery Kitchen Channel is her way of returning to those early videos and picking up where she left off — bringing some of her most-loved recipes back to life on screen.

Through approachable Spanish-inspired dishes, Mediterranean flavours and practical food made for real life, the channel celebrates the pleasure of cooking, sharing and pairing beautiful food with Weathercraft wines.

In the spirit of Spanish cooking, we say: bon profit! Enjoy the journey with winemaker Raquel Jones and the Winery Kitchen.