Victoria: A vine romance

Victoria's best places to stay amongst the vineyards

You don't have to travel far in Victoria to taste fantastic wine with 22 wine regions and over 350 wineries to choose from.

Here we travel the Great Grape Road, Macedon Ranges, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsular, King Valley and Milawa. And to add to your enjoyment we've foundsome of the best places to stay along the way.

Great Grape Road

The Great Grape Road touring route is a sign-posted scenic circuit through the Pyrenees, Grampians and Ballarat wine regions of western Victoria. Producing some of Australia´s finest cool-climate wines ? most notably shiraz ? the mountainous country around the Grampians area has some of the oldest shiraz vines in the world, planted in 1863. There are 12 wineries open to the public in the nearby Pyrenees region around Redbank and Avoca, most specialising in the production of sparkling wines. To the south, the nine goldfields wineries around Ballarat turn out some very good chardonnay and pinot noir.

Royal Mail Hotel: the Western District is renowned for its beef and lamb, but cottage industries such as a sheep´s milk dairy producing yoghurt and cheeses are just starting to gain a reputation for quality. Teamed with the hotel´s own 12-hectare vegie gar den and orchard from which to source seasonal produce, red gum honey harvested on the property and daily home-made bread and you have the basis for an innovative and exciting menu. Motel-style accommodation is available and all rooms have spectacular views of the Southern Grampians. Dunkeld. Tel: (03) 5577 2241.

Around Melbourne

You´re never too far away from a great glass of wine in Melbourne. A quick half-hour drive (30km) form the CBD and you´re at beautiful Werribee Park. There´s more than just neighbouring Shadowfax winery to keep you entertained here.Stroll the 12 hectares of park and gardens, tour the magnificent fully-restored historic mansion, built between 1874 and 1877, with its crystal chandeliers, giant gilt-framed mirrors and opulent furnishings, or explore Werribee open range zoo, the National Equestrian Centre, Werribee Park Golf Course, the Victorian State Rose Garden or just relax at the Spa.

The Mansion Hotel, Werribee Park: despite all the surrounding history and heritage, rooms are ultra modern and very chic. Retreat to the hotel´s library and catch up with the latest contemporary books and weekend papers or settle in for a game of chess by the open fire. Play a game of snooker in the snooker room or submit to a pampering at the spa. Call (03) 9731 4000.

Macedon Ranges and Daylesford

Mount Macedon, just an hour from Melbourne, is the place to escape the summer heat- or snuggle up in front of a roaring winter-time fireplace. There are more than 20 wineries in the area, with shiraz and sparkling wines among the best varieties. The region is full of award-winning restaurants, such as Lake House in Daylesford, cafes and a vast range of specialist growers and local producers, offering everything from fresh vegetables and smallgoods to chocolates and olive oil.

Lake House: luxury lake-side accommodation in either the original homestead or in waterfront suites with private balconies or terraces overlooking the lagoon and Lake Daylesford beyond. The rooms and suites are surrounded by several acres of beautiful manicured gardens, waterfalls and streams. King Street, Daylesford. Tel: (03) 5348 3329.

Blue Ridge Inn: when you first arrive at Blue Ridge Inn you will not be able to drag your eyes away from the extraordinary views over Hanging Rock and the beautiful Hesket Valley ? but sooner or later you will have to. Luckily, the view from your room is exactly the same. Upstairs are elegantly appointed guest rooms with spacious ensuite bathrooms. Downstairs in the living room you´ll find open fires, notable furniture and artworks, and at breakfast, a table fairly groaning under the weight of fresh fruit, home-made preserves and all sorts of diet-breaking breakfast goodies. Tel: (03) 5427 0220.

Yarra Valley

The Yarra is one of the best cool climate wine districts of the world. There are over 50 wineries open, with the most widely produced wines being chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir. Follow the Yarra Valley Regional Food Trail. Along it, you´ll find dozens of producers free range eggs, honey, fruit, berries, herbs and cheese, game, pasta, preserves, trout, clotted cream, chocolates and ice cream. Before you set out, check the opening days of the local markets, where stalls are piled high with local foods.

Chateau Yering, Yarra Valley: where better to taste the delights of the Yarra Valley than at Chateau Yering, one of the oldest vineyards in Victoria? This all-suite boutique hotel in an historic mansion next door to Yering Station winery has been extensively remodelled and refurbished while managing to retain its heritage. All of the bedrooms have been individually decorated with antique furniture, antique works of art and fine fabrics. Eleonore's Restaurant offers contemporary cuisine and a comprehensive Yarra Valley wine list. Less formal dining is in the Sweetwater Cafe, with lovely outdoor views to the garden. Tel: 1800 237 333.

Ainsworth Estate, Yarra Valley: around an hour from Melbourne in the heart of the Yarra Valley, boutique winery Ainsworth Estate´s three contemporary apartments each have magnificent views of the surrounding vineyards, valley and distant mountains. Forget chintz, teddy bears and dried flowers, décor is ultra modern and stylish. Try the wines at their brand new cellar door, or linger over a long lunch or regional tasting platter at the Balcony Café before heading further afield to explore the many other wineries and Yarra Valley attractions, all close by. Tel: (03) 5964 4711.

Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is one long beach ? a 100km boot-shaped peninsula jutting into the ocean on the eastern edge of Port Phillip Bay, just 80km south of Melbourne.

On a sunny day crowds head for the sun, sand and sea, finishing off the afternoon in a sunny beer garden in one of the beach-side pubs or restaurants or drop in for a wine tasting at one of the Peninsula´s 40 wineries producing sleek chardonnays, full-flavoured cabernet sauvignons, pinot noir and increasingly, pinot gris. Whatever you do, don´t miss a long lunch at Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove: eat here for the view alone. The restaurant looks out over 30 acres of vines and 1500 olive trees set on a 50-acre natural amphitheatre. Menu is Mediterranean influenced using local produce, much of it grown in the kitchen garden beside the restaurant terrace. 33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South. Open for lunch daily, dinner on Friday and Saturday. You can also order gourmet picnic hampers and wine to eat at one of six special private picnic locations on the property.

Save room for dessert at the Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm, the largest strawberry producer in Australia. Pick your own (November to April), take a farm tour, sample the fruit wines or an afternoon tea in the café. The home-made ice cream is a must.Cnr Flinders and Shands roads, Main Ridge. Open daily Nov to April, weekends and public holidays May to Oct.

Moonah Links Resort: the most comprehensive golf resort in Australia and home to the Australian Open. All rooms have balconies overlooking one of the two courses and it´s just a short drive away to the nearby towns of Portsea and Sorrento. Don´t forget the on-site restaurant and Endota day spa. Peter Thompson Drive, Fingal.Tel: (03) 5988 2000.

King Valley and Milawa

Milawa, around two and a half hours north of Melbourne, is foodie heaven. Brown Bros Winery is there, but add the winery´s Epicurean Centre, Milawa Mustards, the Milawa Cheese Factory, the Olive Shop, Blue Ox Blueberry Farm, Whitehead´s Mead and Honey farmgate and Merlot Restaurant at Lindenwarrah, and you´ve got all the makings for a gourmet country capital. Head to nearby Whitfield and the King Valley to sample some Italian-style wines, pinot grigio and verdelho among the best.

Lindenwarrah, Milawa: country house hotel, Lindenwarrah, is built for food and wine lovers ? it´s dead opposite Brown Bros winery, a short stroll to the village centre and the Olive Shop and Milawa Mustards, and a five-minute, nice-and-flat bike ride on one of the hotel´s bicycles to the cheese factory. Not to mention its fabulous Merlot Restaurant. Spacious, elegantly furnished rooms all have great views over vineyards towards the mountains. All just two and half hours drive from Melbourne. Tel: (03) 5720 5777.

Mt Bellevue, King Valley: mix big wines with big skies at Mt Bellevue in the King Valley.This B&B on a working Welsh black cattle property high up on the Myrrhee side of the valley has 1000 acres of rolling hills and valleys and panoramic views of vines, olive groves and forests. Just 5km from Boggy Creek Vineyard and Symphonia Wines, and around 15 minutes scenic drive from Whitfield in the heart of the King Valley wine district. Accommodation is in a choice of four self-contained apartments and the property also features a floodlit tennis court and swimming pool. Call (03) 5729 7539.

Article by Lee Atkinson, October 2005

All information was correct at the time of writing but may change without notice.