Victoria’s Top Five Destinations for Wine Lovers

For a state that’s only been making wine for 170 years, Victoria’s wine regions are remarkably well developed. Comparisons between much older, more established wine-producing regions like France’s Burgundy and our Mornington Peninsula are common (and accurate), and you’d be forgiven for mistaking The King Valley for somewhere in Italy.

Each of the state’s five wine destinations has a distinct specialty and variety that it’s known for. Grapes grown along the stretch of cold Southern Ocean between Gippsland and the Bellarine Peninsula are used to make distinct, maritime-influenced pinot noir. In Rutherglen, it’s all about rich and sensuous muscat. 

But, scratch beneath the fertile soil and you’ll discover there’s a lot more to experience in each region than the variety which defines them.  

King Valley – where prosecco is the star

For a state that’s only been making wine for 170 years, Victoria’s wine regions are remarkably well developed. Comparisons between much older, more established wine-producing regions like France’s Burgundy and our Mornington Peninsula are common (and accurate), and you’d be forgiven for mistaking The King Valley for somewhere in Italy.

Each of the state’s five wine destinations has a distinct specialty and variety that it’s known for. Grapes grown along the stretch of cold Southern Ocean between Gippsland and the Bellarine Peninsula are used to make distinct, maritime-influenced pinot noir. In Rutherglen, it’s all about rich and sensuous muscat. 

But, scratch beneath the fertile soil and you’ll discover there’s a lot more to experience in each region than the variety which defines them.  

Rutherglen – the home of Muscat 

Muscat of Rutherglen is an Australian treasure, impossible to replicate as it contains the essence and artistry of multiple generations.  The area of Rutherglen in Victoria, just a three-hour drive from Melbourne, offers visitors an authentic rural experience, complete with warm hospitality.

The blending artistry of the Muscat winemaker is an art form and in Rutherglen there are many opportunities to taste, with more than 19 cellar doors attached to wineries throughout the region. Tastings generally start with a selection of table wines, before arriving at the grand finale of fortifieds. What to expect from a tasting of Muscat of Rutherglen? Expect to be moved. No other wine in the world tastes as intense, rich and luscious. 

Pinot Coast ­­– three phenomenal wine regions

Australia’s Pinot Coast wine trail wraps some 750km of Victoria’s raw and spectacular Southern Ocean coastline. The trail consists of three distinct regions – Geelong/Bellarine, Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland – all of which produce outstanding maritime pinot noir.

With more than 140 cellar doors and some of Australia’s most acclaimed fine dining restaurants, there are plenty of opportunities to taste. The wines are fresh and elegant, showing lifted aromatics and flavours of red fruits.

Find yourself among the gum trees or sitting on a terrace overlooking Port Phillip Bay while dining on award-winning local cuisine. The southern coast is also a drawcard for surfers, nature lovers and adventurers; beyond the cellar door you can dive, whale watch, or explore the coastline itself. 

Shiraz Central – pioneering wines 

Located in the heart of Victoria, Shiraz Central’s wild and mountainous highlands are home to a vast array of climates and soils which contribute to the region’s rich wine diversity and its cachet as Australia’s largely undiscovered shiraz-growing region. 

Shiraz is arguably Australia’s flagship varietal, and in Central Victoria the variety has reached the heights of refinement. Expect to taste a range of forest and orchard fruits brought to life by a tantalising array of cool-spice notes.  Boutique, family-owned and run wineries are prevalent here and you’ll often get to meet the makers.

Visitors will also experience the Australian bush, complete with native wildlife encounters, and the incredible vistas on offer at outstanding national parks including Hanging Rock and The Grampians.

Yarra Valley – a world-class wine region 

Discover world-class wineries, abundant providores and award-winning restaurants – all surrounded by breathtaking scenery – in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, one of the world’s great wine regions. 

Yarra Valley is a leader in cool-climate wines. Mid-summer temperatures hover around 20°C, creating the perfect growing conditions for aromatic, medium-bodied pinot noir and modern interpretations of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. But a star of the region is chardonnay, which excels throughout the region to produce magnificent wines with great flavour intensity, texture and elegance.

Whether you want to meet the innovative winemakers who put this tiny region on the world stage or dine on the finest local produce (cooked by some of Australia’s leading culinary talents), Yarra Valley is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you long after you leave.