The Top Five Wine Regions Near Melbourne
Escaping to some of the country’s most beautiful wine regions doesn’t have to be a long journey! All within an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s city centre, these wine regions are perfect for a quick weekend getaway.
The Yarra Valley is an award winning wine region, famous for it’s cool-climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The region has an incredible range of over 60 cellar-door experiences and 70 wineries to explore around the hill country of Nillumbik, Kangaroo Ground, Hurstbridge and Healesville,
The Yarra Valley region began producing wine in 1838, so this region is truly a pioneer of Australia’s diverse range of wines and is rich in historic architecture. Located less than an hour's drive from Melbourne, it’s a perfect weekend experience.
For a more coastal experience, the Mornington Peninsula is located an hour’s south of Melbourne and is known for its picturesque beaches and beautiful landscape. It is also home to over 50 wineries and cellar door experiences, most greatly renowned for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The region is also celebrated for their more recent varieties, including Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris and Shiraz. The Mornington Peninsula offers completely unique experiences from winery to winery, as the area has distinct climatic, topographic and soil-related qualities that create unique microclimates and therefore unique wines - whether those be from the coastal wineries of Dromana and Merricks, or from the villages of Red Hill and Main Ridge.
The Macedon Ranges is located north of Melbourne in Central Victoria, and is known for its incredible natural landscapes, heritage gardens and large forests. The region’s wines are characterised by their cool-climate, high-altitude and volcanic soil origins that give them their unique and world-class taste. The Macedon Ranges produces some of Australia’s best sparkling wines, as well as elegant Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. The boutique, family-owned wineries are also increasingly producing newer varieties such as Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc and Lagrein.
Be sure to visit!
