Wednesday 28 December 2016

Among The Vines: Where To Dine, Drink And Stay In Melbourne


Although many people love the hustle and bustle of Melbourne metro, we understand that sometimes you want to get out of the city and enjoy the beautiful scenery instead. With 5 major wine regions found throughout Victoria, visiting some of the states best wineries to enjoy a meal and a drink (or two) is the perfect way to achieve this. The good news is that there are plenty of accommodation in Melbourne on the outskirts so you can enjoy to the fullest.

▪    Yarra Valley
About 90km from Melbourne CBD, this region is home to more than 70 wineries and cellar doors. It’s also known as the region that kicked off wine making in Victoria, all the way back in 1838. Some of the more popular wineries in the area include: DeBortoli, Chandon, Yering Station, Punt Road, Mandala Wines, TarraWarra Estate, Oakridge Wines, Immerse, Levantine Hill, Helen’s Hill Estate and Fergusson Winery.

▪    Mornington Peninsula
Around 40km from Melbourne CBD, this region is home to more than 50 boutique cellar doors and wineries. Many of the onsite restaurants are also run by hatted chefs, making for a complete culinary experience. Some of the more popular wineries in the area include: Foxeys Hangout, Montalto, Crittenden Estate, Ten Minutes by Tractor, Paringa Estate, Polperro Winery, Phaedrus Estate and Staindl Wines.

▪    Geelong & the Bellarine
Around 75km from Melbourne CBD, this region is home to more than 40 wineries and cellar doors. In the 1800s, it was known as the largest grape-growing region in the whole of Victoria – and it is seeing a bit of a revival today. Some of the more popular wineries in the area include: Shadowfax Winery, Leura Park Estate, Jack Rabbit Vineyard, Terindah Estate, Otway Estate Winery & Brewery and Brown Magpie Wines.

▪    Sunbury
Around 40km from Melbourne CBD, this is the closest wine making region to the city and also lays claim to being one of Victoria’s oldest. If you visit one of the vineyards in the area, chances are you’ll find a master winemaker or two at work. Some of the more popular wineries in the area include: Goona Warra Vineyard, Pitruzzello Estate Olive Grove & Winery, Craiglee Vineyard, Diggers Rest Vineyard and Andraos Bros Winery.

▪    Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges
Around 112km from Melbourne CBD, this region is home to hidden vineyards and secret gardens. Occasionally, the cellar door is nothing more than an extension to the shed. Some of the more popular wineries in the area include: Kyneton Ridge Estate, Paramoor Winery, Gisborne Peak Winery, Lyons Will Estate, Parkside Winery Estate, Grange Cleveland Winery and Glenlyon Estate Winery.

If you’re wondering where to dine, drink, stay and all fun things you can do in Melbourne, we hope that this article has been helpful. As you can see, there are some gorgeous wineries within fairly close proximity of the city, giving you ample opportunity to get out of the big smoke and enjoy the beautiful scenery that Victoria has to offer. Do a day trip, stay the night or even plan a weekend away – the choice is yours. Just ensure that you sample some of the best that Melbourne has to offer.