Food, Wine and Lots More: An epic tour of to the Wine Regions of Victoria

You won’t find the Barossa Valley here but, with its twenty-one wine regions and an amazingly diverse viticulture (the science, study and production of grapes for wine making), wine-lovers will fall absolutely in love with Victoria.

Our motorhomes are equipped with a spacious fridge and plenty of storage, so stock up on all the wine and cheese your foodie heart desires! Just make sure you are stopping at holiday parks to recharge your motorhome’s battery to keep that fridge nice and chill, and if you are determined to start your own cellar you can rent an for the duration of your journey to carry those extra bottles safe and sound.

Now that you are all set - it’s time to immerse yourself in the wine culture of Victoria. But don’t worry if you are not the biggest wine enthusiast there is plenty more for you to enjoy in this beautiful region...

 

Mornington Peninsula

Just an hour from Melbourne, the Morning Peninsula boasts sandy beaches and green pastures with a cool climate. This is the place to be if you enjoy seafood and wine. You’ll notice that pinot noir and chardonnay are popular here, though there is an emergence of pinot grigio, pinot gris, shiraz and sparkling wines.

After your wine tasting experiences, you can spoil yourself at the Peninsula Hot Springs or fill your motorhome’s cupboards with local craft and produce from the Portsea and Red Hill Community Markets. Also, if you are travelling in June, you’ll want to see the Winter Wine Weekend festival – which will be a high-spirited adventure with local food and wine tasting.

Some wineries in the area include:

• Crittenden Wines
• Green Olive at Red Hill
• Moorooduc Estate
• Quealy Winemakers
• Trofeo Estate Winery
• Yabby Lake Vineyard

 

Image: Peninsula Hot Springs – Tourism Victoria

 

Yarra Valley

Only an hour’s drive from the Melbourne CBD and internationally renowned for its wine tasting experiences, the Yarra Valley has some of the most creative and innovative winemakers in the world.

Your Yarra Valley wine tour will take you through some of the best wineries in the area, and you’ll really notice the passion and rebelliousness these winemakers have towards their craft. Known for its cool-climate wines, this region produces a variety of chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz which will spoil your tastebuds during your wine tastings.

Drink, eat and shop your way through the area – go ahead and make use of that extra storage space in your motorhome. For a relaxing adventure, prepare a picnic with your new treats and explore the national parks, mountain ranges, forests and waterfalls in the area. You won’t want to miss Healesville Sanctuary or the Edible Forest either.

Some wineries in the area include:

• Boat O’Craigo
• Coldstream Hills
• De Bortoli
• Helen & Joey Estate
• Kellybrook Winery
• Paynes Rise Wines

 

Image: Hot air ballooning over the Yarra Valley – Tourism Victoria

 

Gippsland

Gippsland has a cool climate, low rainfall and one of Australia’s most assortments of wine tasting experiences. Take your pick of complex pinot noirs, rich chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, riesling and shiraz as well as a budding sparkling wine industry for those looking for some bubbles for that next special occasion.

Due to the area’s diverse climate, there are four distinct wine trails with some of the best wine tasting experiences in Victoria. In the west you’ll find scenic drives and enjoy views that include rolling farmlands with the Victorian Alps in the background. To the south you’ll find rolling hills and shimmering waters as well as a rustic drink scene. In Central Gippsland there’s an everchanging scenery from ferny rainforests to high country. Finally in East Gippsland you’ll find alpine highlands and lakes – the perfect place for you to park your motorhome and set up a picnic – we recommend hiring an outdoor table and chairs for the duration of your booking to make the most of these stunning views.

Nature lovers will also want to visit Wilsons Promontory National Park, the Gippsland Lakes and Ninety Mile Beach (one of the longest beaches in the world featuring a vast stretch of golden sands, a perfect place for a cooling dip in the warmer months).

Some wineries in the area include:

• Cannibal Creek Vineyard
• Carrajung Estate
• Corner Inlet Vineyard
• Gippsland Wine Company
• Harman Wines
• Narkoojee Winery and Restaurant

 

Image: Golden Beach / Ninety Mile Beach – Tourism Victoria

 

King Valley

Surrounded by mountains, rivers and vineyards on all sides, with Italian-style villages scattered throughout the valley, King Valley truly is Victoria’s Mediterranean. This region is one of the highest-altitude wine-growing areas and a great place to enjoy some of the best wine tasting experiences. This is the birthplace of Australian Prosecco (known as Australian Glera internationally), but you’ll also find a variety of vineyards in this area producing nebbiolo, sangiovese, pinot grigio, dolcetto, arneis and barbera.

On your road trip through Little Italy don’t miss the Milawa Cheese Company, famous for its European flavours and a must-have to pair with your wine when you’re relaxing in your motorhome after a long day exploring the region.

Prosecco lovers won’t want to miss the King Valley Prosecco Road, which is a miniature food and wine trail with a variety of Italian foods, sports and various prosecco wineries. If you plan your road trip in mid-November, you’ll also get the chance to join in the La Dolce Vita Wine & Food Festival.

For history lovers doing the Ned Kelly Touring Route, this is also the area with ties to the Kelly Gang and the place where bushranger Harry Power taught young Ned Kelly the skills that he needed to be a prolific highway robber. Thankfully you won’t be roughing it like the Kelly Gang, with all the luxuries that are included in your motorhome, such as an in-built entertainment system, that make evenings more comfortable than roughing it in the surrounding bushland.

Some wineries in the area include:

• Brown Brothers
• Chrismont Cellar Door, Restaurant and Larder
• Dal Zotto
• Michelini Wines
• Politini Wines
• Red Feet Wines King Valley

 

Image: King Valley / Sam Miranda – Tourism Victoria

 

Beechworth

With its old-world charm, alpine scenery, and diverse growing ecology, Beechworth is a must visit during your wine tour. Known for its chardonnay, pinot noir, shiraz and other cool-climate varieties, you’ll experience a diverse range of wine tasting here. This is largely due to the unique soil in this area, which is comprised of sandstone, granite and clay derived from volcanic deposits from long-extinct volcanos.

The ample storage in your motorhome is going to come in handy in this region as you fill it up with local goods from antique stores, craft shops and boutiques. For the foodies, there are plenty of local cheeses, honey and charcuterie to enjoy (which makes the perfect catering for that evening platter to accompany your evening glass of local wine).

For those following the Ned Kelly Touring Route, you can visit his cell at the Old Beechworth Gaol, and see numerous Kelly artefacts (including the infamous death mask) at the Burke Museum.

For those looking to embrace the spooky side of their travels, Beechworth is also home to the Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum. The former 1800s psychiatric facility is one of Australia’s most iconic and haunted locations running daytime history and nighttime ghost tours for travellers seeking a bit of a paranormal thrill. If you are travelling in October, you can also join in on the fun of AsylumFest, a three-day horror/sci-fi/fantasy book and pop culture festival.

Some wineries in the area include:

• Baamutha Wines
• Fighting Gully Road Wines
• Glenbosch Wine Estate
• Indigo Vineyard
• Serengale
• Vigerons Scmolzer and Brown Cellar Door

 

Image: Campbells Wines in Victoria – Tourism Victoria

 

Rutherglen

With a classic continental and northern atmosphere, Rutherglen is the perfect place for fortified wines, such as Muscat and Topaque (these varieties are only produced in Rutherglen and Glenrowan, both located in Victoria). During your wine tour of Rutherglen, you’ll find a few other varieties such as shiraz, spicy durif and cabernet sauvignon. Rutherglen is also one of the oldest wine regions in Australia, with over 150 years of winemaking history, you're bound to have a truly unique wine tasting experience.

It’s also worthwhile taking the time to visit the All Saints Estate for a tour of the castle (hand built by the original owners of the estate in 1852) and have the chance to learn about artisanal cheese and winemaking techniques. Being gum tree land, there are plenty of walking trails found the area for you to stretch your legs and walk off those cheese platters. If the weather is good, you might even choose to park your motorhome by the Murray River and enjoy a swim or a relaxing picnic.

Some wineries in the area include:

• Buller Wines
• Campbells Wines of Rutherglen
• Chambers Rosewood Vineyards and Winery
• Pfeiffer Wines
• Stanton and Killeen
• Warrabilla Wines

 

Image: Rutherglen / Jones Wines – Tourism Victoria

 

Goulburn Valley

In a region spanning from Central Victoria to the NSW border, the Goulburn Valley is a distinctly warm area surrounded by lakes, billabongs and creeks. This is the oldest continually producing wine region in Victoria, with an assortment of shiraz, earthy chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and one of the world’s oldest and largest producers of Marsanne – you're in for some truly unique wine tasting experiences here. The Tahbilk Winery is one of the oldest wineries in Australia and is well worth a visit.

There’s plenty of historical sites and museums to visit in this area, with relics of war and ancient cathedrals. You can go for a healthy hike in the Bungonia State Conservation Area, see the Big Merino, or visit the eerie and unique stone formations of Wombeyan Cave.

Lastly, and book-lover knows that camping is the perfect time for reading (but books are expensive), so if you’re searching for the perfect low-cost book to enjoy with your glass of wine, visit the Argyle Emporium, located inside to old police station and home to rows and rows of second hand books from floor to ceiling.

Some wineries in the area include:

• Cherry Tree Hill Wines
• Eling Forest Winery
• Lake George Winery
• Lerida Estate
• Longleat Wines
• Monichino Wines Cellar Door
• Sutton Forest Estate Wines

 

Image: Tahbilk Estate – Tourism Victoria

 

Heathcote

With stunning mountain ranges, vibrant red soils and warm summers, Heathcote is the home of some incredible and robust wines which will make for some truly unique wine tasting experiences.

This is red wine country, with extravagant tastes like the blends found in France’s Rhone Valley. On your wine tour you will find an assortment of shiraz, eucalypt-mint cabernet sauvignon, as well as tempranillo, sangiovese, nero d’avola, riesling and viognier.

There are more than fifty wineries in the area, and every October local producers present their products at the Heathcote Wine and Food Festival. An icon on the Australian Wine Calendar and the regions annual showcase.

If you are keen to start your road trip earlier in the year, there is also Heathcote on Show, which runs in June. It is a chance for winemakers, chefs, brewers and musicians to sample new releases of music, food and wine at thirty locations across the township.

Some wineries in the area include:

• Flynns Wines
• Jasper Hill Vineyard
• Munari Wines
• Vinea Marson Winery
• Wild Duck Creek Estate
• Wren Estate

 

Image: Autumnal Drive in Heathcote – Tourism Victoria

 

Grampians

The Grampians regions feature mountain ranges, rugged hills, golden earthy tones and ancient gum trees. Here you’ll find a changeable climate prone to hot days and cool nights with minimal rainfall. All of this combines to create the perfect place for dense and peppery shiraz as well as riesling – both of which will add an element of delight to your wine tasting tours.

The Grampians region also produces a wide range of chardonay, pinot noir, pinot meuniere, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. For a truly unique wine tour, visit Seppelt Wines and let the guide you through their underground cellars – which feature three kilometres of tunnels and three million bottles of wine. Also keep an eye out for their incredibly popular but rare underground dining experience.

Lastly, for festivals, there is the Grampians Great Escape in May, with a bustling weekend of music, food and (of course) wine.

Some wineries in the area include:

• Fallen Giants Vineyard
• Grampians Estate
• Montara Wines
• Mont Langi Ghiran Vineyard
• Pomonal Estate
• Seppelt Wines

 

Image: Roadtrip to the Grampians – Tourism Victoria

 

Henty

Known typically for its wool industry rather than its wine tours, the Henty Region features sweeping green plains, scenic coastline, and volcanic soil. With elegant cool-climate weather, this wine-growing region produces products like the luxury wines produced in the Rhine Valley and Burgandy. There’s such a wide variety of aromatic whites, sweet dessert wines and finely structured reds that there’s bound to be something for every wine lover – not to worry, there’s wine glasses in your motorhome so you can taste them all as soon as you’re ready.

In the Henty region you’ll find an assortment of riesling, pinot noir, chardonnay and a cabernet sauvignon with similarities to the haut medoc wines in Bordeaux – making this a must-visit destination for the ultimate wine tasting experiences.

The Henty Region is also the perfect stop for people travelling along the Great Ocean Road as it’s not much of an extended adventure to get to the Henty region.

Some wineries in the area include:

• Babche Wines
• Green Door Wines
• Ironcloud Wines
• Pierrepoint Wines
• Suffoir Winery, Brewery and Distillery
• Willow Bridge Estate

 

Image: Anglesa on the Great Ocean Road – Tourism Victoria

 

Wine Goes Best With Cheese

We all know that a good glass of wine is best paired with cheese, and Victoria has some wonderful creameries and dairies in the area. So, if you want to stock up your motorhome with cheese to pair with all the wonderful wines you are going to discover we have some recommendations for places to visit to get yourself all prepared.

• Yarra Valley Dairy
• Schulz Organic Creamery and Cafe
• Mill Grove Dairy
• Caldermeade Farm and Cafe
• Goulburn Valley Creamery

 

Image: A charcuterie board is the perfect addition

 

Still Looking for Adventure?

If you are looking to expand your getaway Victoria has plenty on offer. From Markets to Theatre, Melbourne has it all. If you want to take the time to explore, check out our itinerary for a 21-day trip in Melbourne and Surrounds. We also have our guide on why the Melbourne CBD is worth visiting, from the amazing street art in Hozier Lane to the coffee culture that Melbourne is famous for there is a lot to explore.

 

Image: Victoria Street Station – Tourism Victoria

 

Other Victorian Wine Regions & Their Specialities

Upper Goulburn: Durif, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Riesling Gewürztraminer, Semillon, Sangiovese

Alpine Valleys: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Prosecco, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot

Glenrowan: Muscat, Torkay, Shiraz

Strathbogie: Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Sunbury: Shiraz, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Traminer, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Macedon Ranges: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Shiraz

Geelong: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz

Bendigo: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay

Pyrenees: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz

Swan Hill: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz

Murray Darling: Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon

 

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