You’ll find outstanding Victorian wines on the menu at many of the best winery restaurants in Melbourne and across the state. In fact, there’s a good chance you’ve tried a bottle made at one of these Victoria wineries before. In the Yarra Valley, one of Australia’s premier wine-growing regions, some family-owned vineyards have passed down the generations and modern wineries have brought bold new flavours to life. Some prefer to focus on the wine with tasting sessions at the cellar door, while others have full restaurants with menus designed to complement the wine lists. Whether it’s for a special occasion, a romantic date night or a refreshing getaway with a group, the best winery restaurants in Victoria promise an unforgettable experience.
Head out to Phillip Island to share tasting plates and wine with friends, or explore the unique wineries along the Mornington Peninsula, where you can sample terracotta-aged wine served in an old passionfruit cannery. Close to Melbourne, an AFL and winemaking legend showcases his experience, while back out in the valley, wine and gin are served at the old home of Dame Nellie Melba.
Wherever you go, the best winery restaurants in Victoria are ready to welcome you, read on for a guide and secure your spot on OpenTable today.
The best winery restaurants in Victoria – read on for a guide
For one of the best wineries in Victoria in a small farmhouse – visit Tokar Estate Cellar Door in Coldstream
Tokar Estate Cellar Door is located in a small, renovated farmhouse tucked away on sprawling vineyards that have produced innovative, award-winning wines. Staff will guide you through the different bottles of Chardonnay, Tempranillo and Cab Sav grown on the estate. Then, you can select five wines for a personalised tasting experience and pair them with some delightful charcuteries. In warm weather, borrow a picnic blanket and enjoy a glass out in the sunshine, or gather around roaring fire pits in the winter. If you’re interested in pairing your wine with a more substantial meal, book a table in the Tokar Estate Restaurant, where a seasonal menu offers dishes including baked rainbow trout with kipfler potato and roast chicken with grilled leek and dill pickle. Family-owned and operated, Tokar Estate is a great spot to sample some first-class new wines paired with delicious food.
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For an outstanding wine-tasting experience – head out to Greenstone Vineyards in Yarra Glen
Just under an hour from Melbourne, Greenstone Vineyards’ Cellar Door works throughout the week to create unforgettable wines at its Heathcote and Yarra Glen vineyards. From Thursday to Monday, Cellar Door opens its doors at the Yarra Glen vineyard and invite wine enthusiasts to come and try different bottles as they take in the majesty of the region. The cool climate of Yarra Glen creates ideal conditions for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Mediterranean climate and iron-rich soil of Heathcote are perfect for Shiraz, Sangiovese and Colorino grapes. Greenstone offers formal and casual wine-tasting experiences as well as educational sessions run by its knowledgeable staff. Of course, if you know what you want, you can just order a glass and pair it with an antipasto platter, rich gourmet pies and sausage rolls, or an elegant salmon parfait.
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For one of the best winery lunches in Victoria – book a table at Immerse Yarra Valley in Dixons Creek
Head out to Dixons Creek and enjoy an unforgettable lunch that showcases the incredible food and wine of the Yarra Valley region. Immerse Yarra Valley offers complimentary wine tastings in the Cellar Door, tucked away inside the restaurant, so you can find the perfect wine to go with your meal. Try the peachy Sauvignon Blanc with a hint of oak and a dry finish, or the sparkling Shiraz with strong flavours of dark cherry and a hint of spice. Pair them with a melt-in-your-mouth spiced pumpkin and ricotta galette, followed by a tender confit duck leg with a smooth white bean purée. With a variety of vines growing over 23 acres, finding a wine to suit your taste at Immerse Yarra Valley is easy.
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For one of the best winery restaurants in Victoria with a rustic touch – try Phillip Island Winery in Ventnor
Phillip Island Winery hosts tastings at its Cellar Door and first-class meals in its restaurant. With a welcoming atmosphere and relaxed, rustic vibes, this is the perfect spot for a family lunch or a fun celebration with friends. At the Cellar Door you’ll find food and wine pairing experiences, tastings led by an expert and staff on hand to help with any specific requests you might have. Head to the restaurant with a group and try out the ever-changing menu that’s designed to be shared – think grazing boards of smoky cheese, sweet figs and salty pickles or soft sourdough pizzas topped with fior di latte and Gippsland produce. Right now, Phillip Island Winery is restoring its own vines into good growing order. In the meantime, you can enjoy excellent wines sourced from across the region to pair with your meal.
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For one of the best winery restaurants in Victoria for cold weather – cosy up at Sir Paz Estate in Yarra Valley
If you’re looking for a winery that’s perfect for a cosy retreat in cold weather, look no further than Sir Paz Estate. Here, wine and woodfire cooking go hand in hand, served up in an enclosed, heated terrace that still offers sweeping views of the vineyard. Hand-pruned, hand-picked and hand-crafted, Sir Paz Estate’s wines are made with a gentle touch. After being aged in French Oak barriques, Merlot, Chardonnay, rosé and more are bottled for your tasting pleasure. The à la carte menu has been designed to perfectly match each of these wines and everything is either cooked in the roaring woodfire oven or on the barbecue. Watch as the chefs expertly prepare slow-cooked lamb shoulder, wood-fired mussels and, of course, a range of wood-fired pizzas.
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For one of the best winery hotels in Victoria – book a room at Cleveland Estate in Kilmore
Head out to the Macedon Ranges to wine and dine at Cleveland Estate, one of the best winery stays in Victoria, with 50 king-sized suites, plus a homestead that can sleep up to 14 guests. Head to the cool, dimly-lit underground Cellar Door and try stellar local wines from Cleveland Estate’s vineyards and beyond. Bookings are essential for the Carriage House Restaurant, which offers an Italian-inspired, pizza-focused lunch menu and a varied dinner menu that pairs perfectly with the wines. Enjoy crispy confit duck with a full-bodied Shiraz or try flaky barramundi fillet with a chilled glass of Chardonnay. As you drink and dine, take in the incredible views of the vineyard and the rugged slopes of Mount William.
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For a winery run by an experienced winemaker (with a love for footy) – head to Rob Dolan Wines in Warrandyte South
Hailing from the winemaking region of Riverland in South Australia, it’s no surprise that Rob Dolan decided to try his hand at the craft (but not before winning two AFL premierships). With a winery and Cellar Door just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, stop by Rob Dolan Wines to taste a wide range of wines, order from the grazing menu and even try your hand at some footy tipping. The seating here is all outdoors, with white chairs and tables looking out over the front lawn and down into the vineyards below. After decades in the business, Dolan has built up an impressive collection of wines. The White Label range has limited runs, using high-quality Yarra Valley fruit and select vineyards to create the winery’s unique style of wine. The Black Label range is made in-house for the Cellar Door, taking an alternative, seasonal approach to each bottle. The True Colours range is easy on the palate and offers a perfect introduction, while the Signature Series draws on Dolan’s experience to showcase the best of the best with small batches. Taste the full range as you work your way through a grazing platter featuring sourdough snaps, olives, prosciutto, bresaola, salame feline and chicken liver paté.
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For one of the best wineries in Victoria for terracotta wine – head to Trofeo Estate in Dromana
Housed in a beautiful red brick and glass building – once home to a passionfruit cannery – Trofeo Estate’s signature offering is its terracotta wine. Hand-picked grapes are used to create Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other varieties, which are then aged in terracotta amphora. In its restaurant, you’ll find a range of dishes celebrating the delicious produce of the Mornington Peninsula. Choose between soft baked scallops and smoky charred Moreton Bay bugs for your starter. Melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi with pumpkin and sage and tender lamb cutlets with rich eggplant moussaka are just two of the delicious mains on offer, which have all been carefully designed to pair perfectly with Trofeo Estate’s wines.
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For one of the best wineries on the Mornington Peninsula – visit T’Gallant Vineyard in Main Ridge
T’Gallant Vineyard brings the flavours of Italy to the Mornington Peninsula. Grab a seat with a vineyard view and soak up the relaxed atmosphere, which effortlessly blends contemporary comforts with an old-school, rustic charm. Get to the vineyard ahead of your booking and visit the Cellar Door for a tasting session. (You can also visit the Cellar Door at any time during your meal). When you’re ready to eat, there are multiple dining areas to choose from. La Baracca is a spacious, light-filled dining room that’s perfect for larger groups. Meanwhile, Cantina Felice is a quiet, serene spot that’s great for couples or smaller groups. Finally, you can soak up some fresh air at the open-air, patio-style Spuntino Bar or, in good weather, head out to the communal outdoor tables. Pair Italian favourites like crispy fried burrata or prawn and chorizo tagliatelle with the wide variety of house reds, whites, rosés and sparkling wines on offer.
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For one of the best winery restaurants in Victoria with local produce – book at TREAND at Baxter Valley Estate in Baxter
TREAND at Baxter Valley Estate’s Cellar Door offers a full menu in its indoor seating area on weekends. The dishes here are about as local as it gets. The kitchen sources produce from its own veggie patch and fruit trees, or heads out to see what’s available at the neighbouring farms. Meanwhile, the local butcher and fishmonger provide the freshest meat and fish, so it’s no surprise that the menu here is always subject to change. Expect simple yet satisfying dishes like fluffy twice-cooked cheese soufflé with a tangy chive sauce, or rich beef tenderloin with black truffle jus and creamy Paris mash. The sleek and minimalistic dining space reflects the carefully curated menu, with dark tables and large windows letting in plenty of natural light. If you’re just here for the wine, sit outside under the shade of a fig tree and pair your glass with a house-made terrine.
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For a winery steeped in fascinating history – visit Coombe Yarra Valley in Coldstream
Once the home of legendary opera singer Dame Nellie Melba, Coombe Yarra Valley takes visitors on a rich journey of flavours and history. Visit the Cellar Door to taste Coombe’s wines along with Melba Gin, and choose some dishes from the grazing menu to pair with your wines. Alternatively, book a table in the popular restaurant, which has been designed to complement the wines with dishes using seasonal produce grown in the estate’s kitchen garden. Try kangaroo pastrami with salty pickled cucumber or tender lamb shoulder with a red wine jus. After your meal, take a tour of the garden, which features rare plants and stunning trees, or Coombe Cottage – kept in its original condition from the early 1900s – to learn more about the history of this beautiful estate.
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For one of the best winery restaurants in Victoria with a seasonal menu – book at Wayward Winery in Waubra
Situated on the slopes of a dormant volcano, Wayward Winery is the perfect spot for sipping wine and watching the sunset, just 20 minutes outside of Waubra. Watch the Pyrenees Ranges light up as you enjoy Pinot Gris, Shiraz or Chardonnay. Most dishes in the restaurant are cooked over an Argentinian grill or in a wood-fired pizza oven. The seasonal menu always changes but you can expect delicious dishes like fried gnocchi with aromatic sage butter and fried basil or smokey skewers with a hint of rosemary. The full kitchen is open on Fridays and Saturdays but you can also enjoy a light grazing menu throughout the week.
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From the beautiful Yarra Valley to the stunning Mornington Peninsula, the best winery restaurants in Victoria offer plenty of unforgettable flavours, sights and experiences. Whether you want to enjoy a delicious meal paired with the perfect wine or fancy sampling a little bit of everything a vineyard has to offer, these stunning wineries have you covered. With many just a short day trip from Melbourne, it’s easy to plan your next Sunday lunch. Or why not choose a winery with accommodation and enjoy a relaxing, wine-filled weekend?
