Just open: Thousand Pound, Rutherglen

In hot news for Rutherglen, the All Saints Estate siblings and Denis Lucey, of Melbourne restaurant Bottega, have teamed up at wine bar and store Thousand Pound, in Rutherglen's Main Street.

It's a relaxed spot with bar seating and wine-barrel tables, where people can call in for a glass of wine and a bite or to meet friends.

Fourth-generation wine guy Nick Brown, of the family behind Brown Brothers, All Saints and St Leonards, has written a long, wide-ranging drinks list with family and friends in mind. It includes curios such as Chinese sorghum spirit Maotai, benchmark imports and Australian-made cider and spirits.

"We wanted our thirsty local crowd to be able to discover wines that we love to drink, from family-owned Australian wineries to wineries abroad that we have a special affiliation with," saysBrown.

Chef Simon Arkless and his wife, Cait Mitchelhill, of Terrace Restaurant at All Saints Estate, have put together a shortlist of drink-friendly dishes, such as marinated local olives, house-smoked salmon and pork and duck terrine.

A licence to sell wine bottles to go is on the way.

Open Thurs-Sat 5pm-11pm.

Thousand Pound, 82 Main Street, Rutherglen, thousandpound.com.au