Food trails and vineyard tours in Melbourne and Victoria

From the Yarra Valley to the Pinot Coast, the southern state’s varied climate makes it one of the best wine-growing destinations in the world. However, there’s even more to discover here than the region’s famous labels – from the lush Shiraz Central vines of the northern hills and 19th Century-dated cellar doors of the King Valley, to the wineries coupled with farm-to-table restaurants of Rutherglen, here’s the best of Victoria’s must-visit wine districts.

Located less than an hour from Melbourne’s city centre, the Yarra Valley is one of the most visited wine regions in the world. This lush, cool-climate region is peppered with a range of award-winning vineyards and diverse cellar doors, from small hideaways concealed amongst the vines to trendy architecturally inspired spaces with sweeping landscape views. With a seven-month growing season, there’s a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, which can be sampled at every turn.

Among the 160 Yarra Valley wineries, Hubert Estate is one of the region’s oldest producers. Visit the cellar door built into a roly-poly-worthy hillside, where you can try Hubert’s famous Cabernet Sauvignon, before enjoying lunch at the barn-style modern restaurant. Serving a menu of Aussie and European-inspired fare prepared using locally sourced ingredients, the Wandin Yallock Farms heirloom tomatoes with grilled scamorza, basil and balsamic is a top choice. Finish off your visit to the new in-house Indigenous art gallery.

Over the years, Italian migrant families have established award-winning wineries in the King Valley Wine region in North-East Victoria. A three-hour drive from Melbourne, this fertile region offers a long-standing history, with the first vines planted in the 1860s. It is also the first region to produce Australian-made premium Prosecco, alongside a variety of well-known Italian wines such as Nebbiolo and Pinot Grigio.

Head to the scenic Politini Wines in the Cheshunt area for traditional estate-grown French and Italian varietals. Here, guests have the chance to sample a range of premium-quality options, including the Prosecco, before getting stuck into a Sicilian cooking class.

You can also stay here; the guest houses have a modern kitchen, wood heaters, and French doors leading out onto a peaceful decking where you can enjoy brunch, including free-range farm eggs and bacon, with the pretty King Valley as your backdrop.

In contrast to the Yarra Valley, Shiraz Central is located in the highlands of the southern Great Dividing Range – where the climate is tropical and perfect for grape-growing. It’s no wonder, then, that the region is home to over 250 wineries and 100 cellar doors, mainly renowned for their cool, spiced Shiraz.

Here you’ll find the family-owned and operated Mitchelton Estate, a contemporary winery located on the banks of the Goulburn River in Nagambie. Rated as a five-star winery by Halliday Wine Companion for its commitment to viticulture and winemaking over the past 50 years, you can enjoy an award-winning Print Shiraz accompanied by a cheese or praline pairing while absorbing the sights of the verdant Goulburn River environment.

Situated in Victoria’s high country on the Murray River, the Rutherglen wine region is home to 20 boutique wineries showcasing the best of Australia’s sweet, fortified wines. The main varieties grown in the area include Shiraz, Muscat, Durif, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with the same families running some of the oldest wineries in the country.

Lake Moodemere Estate, run by husband and wife duo Michael and Belinda Chambers, is perched on the banks of Lake Moodemere – and focuses on sustainably-produced wine. This means minimal handling and low-intervention varieties.

Set on the banks of the lake surrounded by a lush Rutherglen landscape, food at the attached Lakeside Restaurant and Wine Bar is also sustainably grown or produced on-site. The menu includes estate-reared lamb, wheat, seasonal vegetables, and herbs, all accompanied by Lake Moodemere-grown wine.

The Pinot Coast wraps around some of Victoria’s spectacular Southern Ocean shoreline and is only an hour’s drive from Melbourne. It’s all about the cool-climate Pinot Noir here – best tried at one of the region’s 146 cellar doors. From world-renowned cellar doors to boutique producers, the region is brimming with opportunities for wine enthusiasts.

Basils Farm at Swan Bay houses a vineyard, café, cellar door, and gardens, where most of the produce is harvested for the seasonal menu at the farm restaurant. Popular dishes include pumpkin fritters made with caramelised cauliflower, toasted pepitas, and minted yoghurt. Meanwhile, the vines are nurtured using biodynamic and organic methods and are even picked and pruned by hand, resulting in a range of one-of-a-kind varieties of wine. Spoil yourself with a taste of this tender, local speciality at the cellar door, which not only offers sweeping views of the working winery but also of historical Queenscliff town.

Book with confidence with Travelbag, who can tailor your visit to Victoria’s iconic wineries to suit your tastes. Travelbag is a proud member of the ABTA family. All bookings are ATOL protected.