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

Shaney Hudson Shaney Hudson
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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.

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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.

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Shaney Hudson
Shaney Hudson is an award-winning freelance writer based in Sydney, Australia. After five years living in Europe, she now loves jumping in the car to explore Australia with her young family. Most of all she loves to go where the wild things are.
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Goat yoga to gastronomy: The ultimate guide to Wimmera Mallee, Vic

    Gemma Kaczerepa Gemma Kaczerepa
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    A world away from the hustle, bustle and chaos of the big smoke – yet with a distinct sense of familiarity – Victoria’s Wimmera Mallee region is an incomparable place.

    Victoria’s Grampians are a visual feast, a seemingly endless vista of craggy cliffs, rolling valleys and untamed bushland. But they’re also much more than a scenic mountain landscape. Diverse and storied, each region within the range has its own rhythm. The Wimmera Mallee – a pocket in the state’s north-west, stretching from Horsham to near Mildura – is one of the most captivating. 

    Once known as Victoria’s agricultural heartland, the Wimmera Mallee has evolved in recent years into a dynamic, slightly offbeat hub. It buzzes with a creative hum and welcoming energy, and harbours an eclectic mix of long-time locals and tree-changers. Once you encounter its unmistakable charm, feel its warm country hospitality and taste its nationally celebrated vanilla slice, you may find yourself lingering longer than planned. 

    Eager to explore? These must-visit spots let you experience the inimitable spirit of this special part of the world. 

    Wimmera Mallee’s quirky attractions

    The Dimboola Imaginarium, Wimmera Mallee victoria
    Step into the whacky Dimboola Imaginarium. (Image: Denis Bin)

    If you’re after something a little more unconventional, the Wimmera Mallee delivers in droves. 

    The Dimboola Imaginarium – located in a historic bank building in its namesake town – is a gift shop and boutique accommodation in one. Shop for unique and whimsical keepsakes, stay overnight in an elegant themed room, and lose yourself in one of the Imaginarium’s interactive experiences.  

    Also in Dimboola, just a short drive from the Imaginarium, is a menagerie of utter delight. Tiny Goats and Co. is home to a herd of miniature goats, with the farm offering group visits and special events like goat yoga and cuddle sessions. 

    Arcade aficionados should visit the Australian Pinball Museum in nearby Nhill. Here, you’ll find the biggest selection of playable pinball machines in the country, featuring modern models and classics dating all the way back to 1931.  

    Arts and culture in Wimmera Mallee

    Step into the Wimmera Mallee’s storied history at the Stick Shed
    Step into history at the Stick Shed. (Image: Visit Vic)

    As a thoroughly creative community, it’s no wonder the Wimmera Mallee has a host of venues focused on its rich arts and culture scene. 

    Wander Trickbots Metal Art & Sculpture Garden in Nullawil, a winding trail filled with unique and quirky creations fashioned from metal odds, ends and scrap. A walk through the garden is inspiring enough, but consider buying a piece to take home and treasure. 

    The town of Nhill also has a significant Karen-Burmese refugee community, who make up 10 per cent of the local population. Discover the artistry of this vibrant culture at Paw Po, where you can purchase traditional hand-woven and textile products. Choose from a selection of beautifully crafted homewares, fashion and dolls. 

    Step into the Wimmera Mallee’s storied history at the Stick Shed, the only WWII emergency grain store still standing today. This National Heritage-listed structure takes you on a journey through the region’s agricultural past and is a dramatic sight with its towering and eerily striking timber poles. 

    Nature escapes around Wimmera Mallee

    pink Lake Tyrrel, Wimmera Mallee, Victoria Australia
    Take in the pink hues of Lake Tyrrell. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Much like the majestic beauty of the wider Grampians, the Wimmera Mallee is a mélange of serene and spellbinding nature escapes. 

    Victoria’s pink lakes are famed nationwide, and two of them are found right here. See the flamingo-pink hues of Loch Iel, particularly vivid after a heavy downpour, or the vast and ancient Lake Tyrrell, which turns pink during wet and warm conditions. 

    The Snowdrift dunes in Wyperfeld National Park are ideal for adventurers. Set amid the area’s semi-arid landscape, the dunes are expansive mounds of sand deposited around 40,000 years ago. Hike or sandboard them and make sure to visit at sunset, when the sand glows golden. 

    And while some travellers chase the highest peaks, you can see the most modest in the Wimmera Mallee. Standing a mere 43 metres above the surrounding terrain, Mount Wycheproof is considered the smallest registered mountain in the world. Courtesy of its relatively gentle inclines, it’s a lovely spot for a walk and a picnic. 

    Culinary adventures in Wimmera Mallee

    border inn in the Wimmera Mallee
    Meet the locals at Border Inn.

    As a region rich in agricultural bounty, it’s little surprise the Wimmera Mallee has such a robust and vibrant food scene. The community is fiercely proud of its local produce, showcasing the flavours and heritage of the area. 

    The Border Inn in the village of Apsley is a quaint country pub and meeting spot for the local community, featuring a classic country menu and warm hospitality. 

    The Horsham Golf Club is a popular spot for golf buffs with an adjoining bistro and bar. Try a modern twist on hearty favourites while taking in views of the green.  For a taste of the area’s vintages, head to Norton Estate Wines – a boutique wine producer and cellar door open weekends.  

    A Wimmera Mallee jaunt wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the famed Sharp’s Bakery in Birchip. Here, you’ll find a velvety vanilla slice that’s been crowned as Australia’s best seven times. 

    Wimmera Mallee accommodation

    Fulham Homestead in wimmera mallee
    Escape to Fulham Homestead.

    If you’re enjoying an extended trip, you’ll need somewhere to rest. After a day tackling Wyperfeld’s epic dunes, visit Pine Plains Lodge, also in the national park. Built from reclaimed timber planks and logs, and anchored by rugged stone fireplaces, the lodge is a rustic and cosy hideaway. 

    For a refined yet relaxing escape, head to Fulham Homestead – a gorgeously restored guesthouse on an idyllic working farm, complete with farm animals and scenic vistas. Built in the 1840s, it has all the elegance and charm of its heritage, plus contemporary comforts like a modern kitchen, wi-fi and air-conditioning. 

    The Hermitage Hotel is Victoria’s oldest inland pub and an equally delightful blend of old and new. The restored rooms are perfectly appointed and adorned with period furnishings and high-quality linens. The pub itself is a favoured food and wine spot among locals and travellers alike. 

    If camping is more your style, the Lake Lascelles Cabins and Camping (formerly Mallee Bush Retreat) is a sprawling oasis with powered and unpowered sites and snug cabins. The setting is stunning too, the pristine Lake Lascelles sitting right in its centre. 

    Annual events

    Wimmera Mallee Nhill Aviation Museum
    Time your visit to Nhill Aviation Museum for the annual air show.

    You may not need an excuse to revisit the Wimmera Mallee, but these annual and bi-annual events will almost certainly have you returning again and again. 

    Each year, the Lake Chalegrark Country Music Marathon takes over the town for a spectacular line-up of musicians from around Australia. The event is easygoing, family-friendly, and set in scenic surrounds on the shores of Lake Charlegrark. 

    Every two years, the region holds colourful events like the Wimmera Steampunk Festival, a raucous celebration of 19th-century steampunk culture with a different theme each time; the Nhill Air Show, which features jaw-dropping aerial stunts, aircraft displays, music, activities and more; and the Nati Frinj, a festival of art, culture and performance showcasing the many talents of the Natimuk community. 

    From the quirky to the tasty, start planning at visitwimmeramallee.com.au