Wine in the Hills

Whether you’re looking to stock the cellar or just taste something new, the hills around St Andrews are full of passionate people waiting to share the bounty of their vines with you. Head north-east out of Melbourne and discover smaller boutique wineries dotted around the hills from Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill to Smiths Gully and St Andrews. Most likely, the hands that pour the wine will be the very same hands that picked the grapes!

Panton Hill Vineyard and Winery

Discovering a small, family-run, dog-friendly winery is the best part of exploring and Panton Hill Winery will make you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. One of Melbourne's closest wineries, you'll feel like you stepped into Southern Europe, but in a bush setting. The gorgeous recycled timber and stone buildings exude a distinctly European feel thanks to owner and winemaker Teunis Kwak’s hard work.

Open on Saturdays from 11:00am to 5:00pm, sample the rustic Mediterranean-style menu and let the winemakers pour you a glass of their hard work.

Buttermans Track Wines

The clue is in the name – it’s worth getting off the beaten track to visit this certified organic vineyard run by the Trist family since 1991. Sustainability is a top priority for Buttermans Track, with a state-of-the-art gravity flow winery at the heart of their operation and a long-term goal of net zero emissions.

Taste your way through their highly drinkable wines while enjoying a local cheese platter. Don’t miss the Sangiovese which continues to win legions of fans with its full-flavoured palate of dark red fruit and earthy/forest floor bouquet.

The Cellar Door is open for tastings and sales every Saturday and Sunday 12:00pm - 5:00pm. By Appointment during weekdays.

Shaws Road Winery

One of those hidden gems you wished you’d found earlier, Shaws Road is a family-owned and operated winery that has been quietly going about the business of making fabulous wine for over 30 years.

A charming restaurant serving weekend lunch with views across the rolling hills? Yep, there’s one of those. Maybe you fancy a private wine tasting in the cellar surrounded by barrels and hosted by the very person who made the wine? No problem. Grab a few friends and they’ll set it up for you. How about a charming Bed & Breakfast apartment on site so you can really indulge? Of course. They’ll even throw in a complimentary bottle of wine.

Visit Shaws Road Winery on weekends between 12:00pm - 5:00pm.