Sip On Refined Regional Drops At The Best Bendigo Wineries

Awash with warm country hospitality and award-winning drops, the best Bendigo wineries lure you into giddy, all-out delicious euphoria.

Small-batch, family-run wineries reign supreme in Bendigo, with relaxed, warm and engaging encounters practically guaranteed. Rock up to one of the dozen-odd cellar doors in this enchanting Goldfields region to chat with one of the winemakers themselves, and rather than jostling for a spot at the tasting bench with busloads of tourists, you might just be the winery’s sole guests.

Looking for things to do in the area? Read on to learn more about this little-known and much-underrated wine region, with our guide to the best Bendigo wineries.

1. Ellis Wines

the vineyard at Ellis Wines, Bendigo — Ellis Wines cultivates wine grapes on the rich red Cambrian soil. (Image: Shioban)

First, let us set the scene. The soil that once glistened with gold in Bendigo is also a solid overachiever at growing grapes, renowned for its equal parts clay, silt and sand (which, for those of us playing at home, is called clay loam). It’s a hard fact the family behind Ellis Wines have grasped and ran with, boasting more than 123 acres of vines and excellent creations spanning shiraz, moscato, cabernet, merlot and more. You won’t miss this Bendigo winery’s cellar door, all sleek black-on-black with flashes of timber, where you’re invited to sample the team’s premium, signature and rebel ranges, plus there’s cheeses and dips on hand to help wash down every delight.

2. Vin du Van Estate

the cellar door overlooking the vineyards at Vin du Van Estate, Bendigo — Step into a French-inspired cellar door overlooking expansive vineyard views. (Image: Leon Schoots Photography)

Journey about 10-15 minutes’ south of Bendigo to unearth a hidden gem in Vin du Van Estate . Inspired by the rustic wineries of France, this French-inspired cellar door welcomes guests into a manicured garden overlooking the vineyards as an on-site bistro knocks up grazing boards, gourmet pizzas and other dreamy wine accompaniments. The wine itself is award-winning, nabbing the 2024 Australian Small Winemakers Show’s silver medal for its pinot gris and 2023’s bronze for its shiraz. But quality craftsmanship is just the icing on the cake at this Bendigo winery, given the pure joy you’ll experience simply sitting in this tranquil setting complete with a tiered water fountain and vivid-hued blooms.

3. Balgownie Bendigo

Wine tastings Balgownie Bendigo — Pair your wine with a delectable cheese and charcuterie board.

One of the region’s most well-known estates – and its oldest working commercial winery, established in 1969 – Balgownie Bendigo is a non-negotiable addition to any regional winery-hopping itinerary. Cabernet sauvignon and shiraz were the Bendigo winery’s first plantings and remain the winery’s trump cards, but there are plenty more reds, whites and sparklings to sample, with the label’s grapes sourced from across the state. Try a few drops (including the very special Black Label collection and limited-releases) or indulge in a cheese or chocolate-paired tasting at the rustic cellar door. Plenty hungry? There’s a hot lunch being served on the deck. You can even stay the night inside a glamping tent, one of the best accommodation options in Bendigo if you ask us.

4. Harcourt Valley Vineyards

sparkling rose at Harcourt Valley Vineyards — Sip on a glass of sparkling rosé at Harcourt Valley Vineyards.

This multi-award-winning winery is among the more schmick and modern addresses in the region, an angular granite building surrounded by gum trees, manicured lawns and native plants, with vineyards for a backdrop. The cellar door is particularly mesmerising, a bright and airy space with a large window overlooking the inner workings of the winery. In warmer weather, Harcourt Valley Vineyards ’ gorgeous adjoining deck is perfect for lounging with a glass of the estate’s crisp rosé. Second-generation winemaker Quinn Livingstone is at the helm of this small-batch winery, which turns out riesling and chardonnay, as well as sparkling rosé, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and the occasional limited release. But it’s not just fermented grape juice you’ll find on offer here — they also produce ginger beer, raspberry mead, a mango smash and an American pale ale.

5. Mandurang Valley Wines

winemakers at Mandurang Valley Wines — It’s a family affair at Mandurang Valley Wines.

The low-key, rustic vibe at this modest cellar door , just a 10-minute drive from the centre of Bendigo, is really rather charming. Seated wine experiences at Mandurang Valley Wines offer comprehensive insight into the magic of this place while accompanying cheese and charcuterie options ensure bellies remain wholly satisfied. Owned and run by the aptly named Wes and Pamela Vine, this Bendigo winery is a family affair where the couple’s son Steve takes the winemaking reins and regular wine dinners are staged in cahoots with neighbouring wineries. Don’t leave without sampling Mandurang’s GSM, which has become one of the Bendigo winery’s best in show.

6. St Anne’s Winery Bendigo

the picturesque winery and cellar door at St Anne’s Winery Bendigo — Take in postcard-perfect views at St Anne’s Winery. (Image: Adam Shui)

Once known as The Big Hill Vineyard, this Bendigo winery and cellar door is now famed as St Anne’s Vineyards , bringing the McLean family’s tally of cellar doors up to a whopping five across Victoria and New South Wales. While the cellar door’s facade is unassuming, this Bendigo winery is renowned for its well-informed and engaging staff, postcard-perfect vineyard views, and – unlike almost any other winery in the region – a few fortifieds. Tastings are free and grazing platters can also be purchased, plus, if you’re visiting on a Sunday, save stomach space for Pizza Sunday where gourmet slices (including gluten-free varieties) draw a solid crowd.

7. BlackJack Wines

A cheese and charcuterie board at (Image: BlackJack Wines). — Tuck into a cheese and meats that have been perfectly paired with their wine. (Image: BlackJack Wines)

Full-bodied reds are the signature at this small-scale Harcourt winery, once an old apple orchard, though you can occasionally find a rosé here too. And chances are, a tasting at BlackJack Wines will be led by one of the winemakers. The quaint cellar door received a total facelift in early 2020, transforming from a humble tin shed to a photo-ready showstopper looking over a pond. On one side there’s a small patio draped with greenery, while on the other, a small cellar door is dwarfed by the working winery. This Bendigo winery is run by the affable Ian and Ken, who are close mates and old neighbours, cementing the chilled out spot’s laidback and homely status.

8. Water Wheel Vineyards

Half an hour’s drive from Bendigo will land you at this quiet overachiever, specialising in shiraz. Water Wheel Vineyards released its first vintage in 1974 and has risen from strength to strength since it was taken on by local farming family the Cummings in 1989, courting the attention of many a critic, and exporting to markets including the US and Canada. There’s no bells and whistles at this cellar door, just warm country hospitality and some seriously quaffable (and very reasonably priced) wines.

9. Sutton Grange Winery

scenic views at Sutton Grange Winery, Bendigo — Soak up bucolic views.

Sutton Grange Winery has long been on the lips of Australia’s oenophiles. Despite numbering among the younger vineyards in the region – its first grapes were planted only in 1998 – this Bendigo winery has attracted a five-star rating from the illustrious Halliday Wine Companion. Produced from organically grown estate fruit, the vino is reason enough to visit, but its cellar door is also an all-too-tempting destination. Inside, you’ll find a cosy, timber-decked space complete with a stone fireplace, while outside the veranda beckons on a warm summer’s day. Wherever you sit, you’ll likely be rewarded with bucolic views over the estate, with the lush lawn tumbling down into a lake in the foreground and the jagged slopes of Mount Alexander rising in the background. The team offers a seated tasting for $10 a pop, which includes nine wines from across its Fairbank and Sutton Grange ranges.

10. Glenwillow Wines

Peter Fyffe, Glenwillow winegrower and owner — Glenwillow winegrower and owner Peter Fyffe picks the grapes himself.

Gunning for the title of the region’s most unexpected cellar door is Glenwillow Wines . Hidden in the middle of Australia’s oldest working pottery (Bendigo Pottery) in the Bendigo suburb of Epsom lies this must-visit, manned by the Fyffe family. While there are no vineyards to gaze over here, the Bendigo winery’s urban cellar door promises other surprises, including the artistic talents of Cherryl Fyffe and local olive oil to sample. Drop in for a relaxed tasting or book a private tour.

11. Sandhurst Ridge Winery & Vineyard

holding a glass of wine against a scenic vineyard, Sandhurst Ridge Winery & Vineyard — Raise a glass or two at Sandhurst Ridge Winery & Vineyard.

There’s a delightfully informal feel to Sandhurst Ridge Winery & Vineyard , run by the Greblo family, one of whom you will no doubt meet while lingering at the polished jarrah tasting bench. While there’s no food on offer here, you are welcome to BYO spread to enjoy with a bottle of one of this Bendigo winery’s finest reds. There’s seating both inside the burgundy walls of the cellar door, and out on the patio under the pergola.

12. Harvest Food & Wine

If you’re in Bendigo for a good time, not a long time, then Harvest Food & Wine is your best bet for effortless wine slurping. This smart city centre restaurant and deli also happens to be a cellar door to help promote the owner (and winemaker, and sommelier) Lincoln Riley’s label North Run, though the store stocks plenty of other local and international drops to take home with you, too. There’s a Continental feel to this much-loved local haunt, which sits right in the heart of the city’s art precinct and rolls out one of Bendigo’s best cafe menus.

13. Heathcote Winery

guests relaxing at Heathcote Winery, Bendigo — Grab a seat in the al fresco area at Heathcote Winery. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Time on your side and keen to soak up more of your stunning country surroundings? Punch Heathcote Winery into Maps to be gob-smacked by a historic cellar door that once served as a mining produce store in the 1850s. But while it’s all dusty vintage on the exterior, inside is as slick as Bendigo wineries come as guided tastings run alongside refined bites including beef bao buns, crispy flathead with fries and a burrata bowl with roasted cherry tomatoes. It’s the tasting room that’s bound to stay with you, showcasing this vineyard’s superb selection of shiraz, viognier, cabernet and rosé.

Originally written by Chloe Cann with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Discover the best places to stay during your visit.

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.

Split point lookout — The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.

This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities.

Lorne to Birregurra

Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.

Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.

From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.

You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.

Brae restaurant — Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.

A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.

It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.

The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.

Port Campbell to Timboon

Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

Warrnambool building — A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.

Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.

The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit.

The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip.

Eating there

The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.

Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.

A vino lover’s guide to the finest Bendigo wineries