A Wine Lover's Guide To Melbourne

Melbourne is a city steeped in wine culture and tradition, and is fortunate to be surrounded by diverse agricultural areas that are home to five distinct wine regions throughout Victoria: Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Geelong, Macedon and Sunbury. Yarra Valley is the most prestigious and well known of the regions. In 1838, Yarra Valley planted the seed to be Victoria’s first wine region. This guide is for the wine connoisseur who is not afraid to venture uncharted territories of the boutique vineyards as well as the award-winning and well-recognised wineries.

Domaine Chandon

Located in the heart of Yarra Valley, Domaine Chandon is the region’s most popular winery. Specialising in sparkling wine, Chandon prides itself on its genuine French heritage, bringing the class of Moet Chandon to Australia. Try one of James Halliday’s favorite sparkling varieties, Chandon Blanc de Blancs 2012. He awarded this sparkling 95 points in the Top 100 wine list. Not only does Chandon exhibit a wonderful wine collection of both still and sparkling, it is about the Chandon experience. Many go there for birthdays or anniversaries to be wined and dined by the ultimate specialists in the sparkling industry.

Red Hill Estate

Mornington Peninsula is the ‘Pinot Noir’ wine region of Melbourne, and Red Hill Estate grows 50 percent Pinot Noir on their property. Established in 1989 on top of Victoria’s south-east region, Red Hill Estate resides on an internationally recognised cool climate region with over 23 acres of vines. This five star estate has won an abundance of 90 plus points awards, particularly for their Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Chardonnay.

Montalto

Montalto is the estate that does it all: wine, olive groves and local produce. It is one of the most recognized of all the Mornington Peninsula estates. The winemakers draw their grapes from six vineyards across the region, allowing for diversity of fruit, color and flavor. Taste the best of the best Peninsula wines at Montalto in their cellar door or delight in the glorious food with a picnic, piazza, or restaurant experience.

Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove , 33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South, VIC, Australia, +61 3 5989 8412

Montalto’s Pinot noir ready for pressing

Paringa

Paringa Estate is located on the Mornington Peninsula and holds the reputation for having the best-performing wines. With over 100 awards to Paringa’s name, it is a must-see place for all wine lovers. The estate is owned and operated by Lindsay McCall who is one of Peninsula’s most trusted and knowledgeable wine producers.

Stonier Wines

Previously rated Red 5-star winery by James Halliday, it is no wonder Stonier is a stop on the wine destination list. The first Stonier vines were planted in 1978 and since then it has become one of the most diverse wineries on the Mornington Peninsula. Their main focus is Chardonnay and Pinot Noir due to the Peninsula’s maritime climate.

De Bortoli

This vineyard has been passed through the De Bortoli family for three generations and shows no signs of stopping the glorious tradition. Located in the heart of the Yarra Valley, De Bortoli is a well-established winery with a focus on varietal and seasonal vintage.

Serrat

Hidden away in the crevasses of Yarra Valley lies Serrat Winery. It may be a boutique vineyard but it sure has proven itself a first class winery. This vineyard produces the highest quality wines made with love and passion. Serrat is owned and cared for by Tom and Nadège Carson, who are two qualified winemakers.

About the author

Jessica Poulter

Jessica Poulter is a writer and blogger based in Melbourne, Australia. She recently graduated from a Bachelor of Arts with Murdoch University, majoring in English and Creative Writing and is also studying journalism at Macleay College. Jessica is passionate about dance and writes a regular column in the Australian Dance Review as well as contributing on her own dance blog, Dance Writer. Through this, she has been appointed as a cultural ambassador for Australian dance with the Arts Alliance in London. Along with her experience with cosmetics, Jessica is a media intern for Williamspro Makeup and Hair.