Best Wineries Close to Melbourne 2024
Where are the best wineries close to Melbourne? Sometimes you are time poor or you just don't want to travel 3-4 hours to a wine region. Here are some great wineries relatively close to Melbourne.
Merricks Creek - Mornington Peninsula (just under an hour)
Merricks Creek is a stunning bespoke winery on the glorious Mornington Peninsula. A pleasant one hour drive will take you to Merricks Creek where it doesn't take long to relax with their standout Pinot Noir and Estate Chardonnay.
In fact they produce close-planted Pinot Noir which is often acclaimed as some of the best in Australia (made in the French Burgundy tradition). Not only is the wine sensational but the views are stunning. You can grab a table on the raised timber deck and it feels like you're actually sitting in the vineyard (which is metres away). Take in the seasons of the vineyard (excellent in both summer and winter).
Gourmet share plates are top notch such as this Grilled Raclette cheese.
Bi fold doors open the cellar door right up to become one of the best settings for a winery we know.
Delecious Main Ridge Dairy fresh goats curd with tomatoes, beetroot and a warm baguette.
A modern cellar door awaits.
You can also hire The Garden View Table for group bookings - enjoy food and wine around a large 100 year old pine slab from the Jamieson High Country.
The cellar door offers a first class tasting experience often with the winemaker and owner Dr Peter Parker. This is a family run winery and exudes enthusiasm and passion for all things wine, notably Pinot Noir. In addition to all this Merricks Creek offers excellent gourmet tasting plates at a reasonable price (currently around $15) and a glass of wine is also reasonably priced at $10 per glass (other places charge up to $17 a glass).
An ideal session is to do some wine tasting then order a selection of gourmet share plates and wine and while away a few hours with family and friends. Also check out the Monet inspired gardens. A magical setting not far from Melbourne!
Marnong Estate - Mickleham (35 min from City and 15 min from Airport)
Marnong Estate is a revelation and has the feel of a resort, with top notch Bankvale Restaurant, luxury accomodation, cellar door and more, with sweeping views that are simply breathtaking. Close to the Melbourne CBD but also close to the airport, is a revelation.
Bankvale Run Restaurant at Marnong Estate is a perfect place to visit both for every day eating as well as for that special occasion, as it's accesible with reasonable prices. Locals love it. You won't believe the quality, size and scale of Marnong Estate so accessible to Melburnians and also tourists.
Port Arlington mussels are the best.
Barramundi is a compelling dish.
The culinary experience in Bankvale Run restaurant under the leadership of top Executive chef Adam Upton is top notch and marries well with the striking sweeping elevated views.
Sweeping views.
Local produce is elevated and there's a distinctive European influence in the kitchen. You can see for mile and miles out to the Macedon Ranges. The World Loves Melbourne was invited for lunch at Bankvale Restaurant on a perfect Friday winter's day. We were highly impressed if not blown away. What a gem for Victoria and so close to the city!
Rob Dolan Wines - Warrandyte South/Yarra Valley (about 30 min)
Rob Dolan Wines headed up by larger than life Rob Dolan is one of the legends of the Yarra Valley. It's surprising to us that this cellar door is on the edge of suburbia almost within kicking distance of Eastland Shopping Centre (Rob Dolan is an ex footballer). The wines are a standout and there's a brewery set up as well. Check out the cellar door and grab some charcuterie items to enjoy in cellar door or on the charming verandah. Gaze across the vineyards and you may even get a visit from the winery dog.
Sit out on the verandah and enjoy standout wines including the Shiraz or the award winning Pinot Noir.
Charcuterie items from cellar door and a glass of wine.
The winery dog by the fountain on its way to greet me.
Verandah vibes with large wine barrels. Check out Rob Dolan regular events.
Kellybrook (about 30 min)
Kellybrook Winery is a popular winery with the punters, also on the edge of the Yarra Valley. Known for their Cider Festival, the locals in the know flock to this destination. Their ciders are more known than their wines (and their wines are top notch), with the cider made in the champagne method as bottle fermented. Enjoy a wine or cider (or even a beer) at cellar door or on the verandah, or even in the gardens.
Famous cider is made from real crushed fruit not from artificial additives and essences. Enjoy with a local produce platter at cellar door.
Kellybrook boasts attractive cellar door and historic gardens and grounds close to the city.
Arundel Farm Estate (about 27 min)
Arundel Farm Estate is only some 27 min from Melbourne via the Calder Freeway in Melbourne's north west. The good news is that it's a top notch winery which we recently visited and were highly impressed. A boutique winery with soul located in the Sunbury wine region, Arundel Farm Estate is family run.
New modern cellar door awaits (check for opening times). Wines are high quality. We managed to get a couple of bottles of their Shiraz including a 2011 back vintage, which was delicious. Being a dry region, there is an intensity of the wines as the vines compete for moisture.
The Estate has the winery, cellar door and restaurant, bluestone homestead, stables and shearing shed.
Kingfish part of the impressive meal we enjoyed at Arundel Farm Estate in their restaurant.
Charcuterie on song.
Snapper a joyous dish perfect with Arundel Farm Estate wines.