Oakridge: A guide to one of Yarra Valley’s most-awarded wineries

Oakridge is a must-stop in the Yarra Valley for award-winning wine and food, not to mention epic views.

Just one hour from Melbourne lies one of Australia’s premier wine-growing regions, and one of Australia’s most award-winning wineries. As one of Victoria’s best days out, Oakridge winery offers incredible wine tasting, high-end vineyard tours, and award-winning dining with some of the best views of the peaceful rolling hills around Coldstream.

Book a table, take a masterclass or simply visit the cellar door with friends to discover the Yarra Valley’s premier winery experience: Oakridge.

Oakridge entrance — Let the red entrance call you inside.

Oakridge cellar door

An architecturally striking, bright red entrance breaks up the surrounding greenery and invites travellers inside for the opportunity to discover why Oakridge’s wines have earned so many accolades.

A member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA), Oakridge has won hundreds of wine awards. Most notably, it’s rated number one on Halliday’s Top 100 wineries list for 2023, and was named Real Review’s Winery of the Year 2023. In 2017, Chief Winemaker David Bicknell was named Gourmet Traveller’s Winemaker of the Year, and in 2022, it was named Champion Victorian Winery at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards. It also won best value winery at the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.

Oakridge wine barrels — Get a taste of Oakridge’s award-winning wine.

A visit to the cellar door is a chance to get to know these wines. A great experience to share with friends, Oakridge offers four distinct tasting experiences all led by friendly and knowledgeable staff, keen to share their passion with newcomers and wine connoisseurs alike.

Try the Oakridge Experience for a casual 30-minute tasting of five wines from across the Oakridge portfolio. Bookings are encouraged but not essential. Those with a little more time can try the 45-minute Top Rated Vineyard Series, sharing a taste of the current release 2022 Vineyard Series – from chardonnay to pinot noir.

Or, kick things up a notch with Oakridge’s two masterclass options: one focused on Oakridge’s award-winning Chardonnay, the other on the 864 Single Block range. Not to be missed, the latter features a tasting of the full portfolio of this range, which are selected for their age and maturity and produced from a single vineyard.

Oakridge wine tasting experience — Be introduced to the range by knowledgeable staff.

Arrive in style

For a truly unforgettable luxury adventure, take a helicopter from Melbourne on Oakridge Wine’s Extraordinary Yarra Valley Experience.

Flying into the Yarra Valley offers a different perspective of the wine-growing region. Enjoy a birds-eye view of the Great Dividing Range’s enormous scale and the geological forces that shaped the valley, all dominated by neat lines of vineyards the region is famous for.

Oakridge itself is part of the Yarra Ranges Ribbons of Green program , and flying in from above offers a chance to see how native plants have been used to restore biodiversity to the site.

Oakridge kitchen garden — Join a tour of the kitchen garden.

When the rotors have stopped turning, take a personal tour with the chef of Oakridge’s aforementioned kitchen garden, before touring the vineyards to learn about the unique terroir of Yarra Valley, the sustainable methods used to grow the grapes, and finally, the wine-making process.

Later, head inside to private tasting rooms for a masterclass of your choice. Afterwards, guests can settle into a long lunch with matching wines and a stellar view. Finally, when it’s time to depart, take home an included twin pack of your favourite wines.

Oakridge dining on the terrace — Settle into a long lunch with matching wines.

The details

Oakridge Wines is located at 864 Maroondah Highway in Coldstream, around an hour’s drive from Melbourne. Parking is available onsite; Hop It , Yarra Valley A2B and Yarra Valley Transfers all provide transport options in the Yarra Valley.

Oakridge is open seven days a week. The Cellar Door is open from 10am to 5pm. Private functions and masterclasses by appointment, bookings recommended for tastings.

From natural wonders to historical sites, we’ve rounded up Victoria’s most epic icons that deserve a place on your itinerary.

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

From towering mountains to crystal cascades and ancient rock art sites, the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is a playground for both outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. Don’t miss the views from the highest peak Mount William or the iconic Pinnacle.

Murray River

A paddle steamer down the Murray in Echuca — The wonders of the Murray are best experienced on board a paddle steamer. (Image: Visit Victoria)

A natural icon of majestic proportions, the Murray River flows for a staggering 2700 kilometres, making it one of the world’s longest navigable rivers. Meandering through Victoria before flowing out to sea at Goolwa in South Australia, the river is home to diverse wildlife, picturesque towns and secluded creeks and beaches.

Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell

the Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road — The Twelve Apostles are a star attraction on the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

These limestone sea stacks are arguably Victoria’s most famous icon . After an $8-million upgrade to its lookout, The Blowhole near Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool (meaning breath of the whale) has recently reopened. A brand-new Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, complete with rooftop lookout, will open in 2026.

You Yangs, Geelong

kangaroos in You Yangs — Kangaroos enjoy dusk in the You Yangs. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Rising 300-plus metres from the flat volcanic plains between Melbourne/Naarm and Geelong, the You Yangs are massive granite boulders named for the local Wadawurrung word ‘Youang’, meaning ‘big hills’. Hiking, biking, rock climbing and horse-riding are popular within this regional park.

Redwood Forest, Yarra Valley

Near the town of Warburton, an extraordinary forest of some 1500 Californian Redwoods stands among native orchids, eucalypt trees and rich birdlife. Planted in the 1930s, these 55-metre-plus trees can live for 2000 years and will grow to be some of the world’s tallest.

Wilsons Promontory, Gippsland

the Wilsons Promontory — Wilsons Promontory is home to the incredible Skull Rock formation. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The Prom, as it’s known locally, is the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. This 50,000-hectare reserve comprises granite mountains and forest, fringed by sandy beaches and surrounded by a marine park rich in marine biodiversity. It’s also home to the incredible and imposing Skull Rock formation.

Hanging Rock Reserve, Macedon Ranges

This six-million-year-old volcanic rock  was thrown into the national spotlight thanks to the 1967 novel and consequent 1975 film based on the fictional disappearance of schoolgirls in 1901. Mystery aside, visitors can walk the steep 105-metre summit, fish for trout and go twitching.

Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

exploring Sovereign Hill — Step back in time at Sovereign Hill. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Cry ‘eureka!’ at Sovereign Hill , a living museum to the prosperous Gold Rush era of the 1850s, during which Ballarat produced the most gold in the world. Visitors to this much-loved attraction can walk historic  streets, enter a gold mine and try panning for the good stuff, too.

The Great Stupa, Bendigo

Who’d have thought the largest Buddhist temple in the Western world would be tucked away in Bendigo’s bushland? Welcoming visitors to explore, this sacred Buddhist pagoda is an epicentre for Tibetan culture, architecture, art and interfaith harmony.

Cape Schanck Lighthouse, Mornington Peninsula

the Cape Schanck Lighthouse from above — Heritage-listed Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

Ensuring the safe passage of ships in the notoriously treacherous Bass Strait since 1859, this heritage-listed lighthouse overlooks dramatic volcanic coast and wild beaches. The surrounding reserve is home to a plethora of wildlife including little penguins, seals and echidnas.

Your guide to one of Yarra Valley’s most-awarded wineries