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.

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.

A vino lover’s guide to the finest Bendigo wineries