Nestled in the cool-climate contours of the Yarra Valley lies sparkling wine pioneer, Chandon. Since establishing its Australian estate in 1986, Chandon has grown into one of Victoria’s benchmark vineyards, thanks to its combination of French savoir-faire and local terroir. Guests can choose how they want to experience the stunning vineyard. Whether it’s sitting among the vines with a Garden Spritz Picnic, settling in for a long lunch at Chandon Restaurant or treating themselves to a private tasting, the winery is a playground for sparkling lovers.

In north-east Victoria, there’s a very special winery on the banks of the Murray River. All Saints Estate is an historic, family-owned winery established in the 1860s which is now owned by the Brown siblings. The castle-like exterior is just the beginning of your magical experience – from juicy cabernets that pair beautifully with the puffy, wood-fired pizza served at Bonnie (the estate’s newest eatery), to regular annual events like ‘taste the family cellar’ where you’ll sample some of the estate’s oldest and rarest wines.

Wineries and vineyards tend to have an uncanny knack for being situated in spectacular locations, and the Brown Brothers winery in the King Valley is no exception. The stunningly rugged Victorian Alps form the backdrop for this iconic winery, particularly loved for its Patricia noble riesling, shiraz mondeuse and cabernet and dolcetto.

If you like your vineyards with a view (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?), head to Jack Rabbit where you’ll have incredible views across the bay to Geelong, the You Yangs and Melbourne. Known for their cool climate vintages, the maritime environment produces exceptionally sophisticated wines – from their pithy pinot grigio to a crisp, effervescent single vineyard sparkling blanc de blanc.

With 30 acres of vineyards, olive groves, kitchen gardens (which happen to be amongst Victoria’s oldest and largest) and sculpture trails, Montalto is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most well-known wineries. One of the best ways for you to get to know the winery is through an Estate to Plate experience, where you’ll tour the kitchen gardens, taste the cool climate wines before settling into a multi-course tasting experience (with the award-winning wines, of course). Related story: 11 of the best regional hotels to visit in Victoria

You can definitely say you’ve got wine in your blood if you’re a ninth-generation wine maker like Dominique Portet. Here in the Yarra Valley is a petite slice of Bordeaux (think white French doors and shutters) – a winery that prides itself on impeccable wines, including the flagship Andre cabernet sauvignon and highly regarded Fontaine rosé.

The very model of a modern winemaking space is Boomtown Winery at The Mill in Castlemaine, home to Minim Wine, Analog, Jeffrey Wine and Puta Bida. This is small-scale, artisan winemaking at its best, where young and aspiring winemakers cooperate and start their own labels. Keep an eye on Boomtown’s events page too – there’s everything from restaurant pop ups to disco nights, making this one fun winery to visit.

Rolling hills, picturesque vineyards, leaves that glow aflame in the autumn – these are the things that make our winery dreams come true. The De Bortoli family and their story of determination and triumph is one that began nearly 100 years ago in war-torn Europe, and is now told four generations later in the beautiful Yarra Valley. You can also step beyond the cellar door and book a spot on the highly-recommended Unique De Bortoli behind the scenes experience. Related story: 25 reasons to add Orange to your travel bucket list

Known as ‘tabilk-tabilk’ (place of many waterholes) in the language of the Daung-wurrung, the landscape surrounding Tahbilk Winery is one of rivers, creeks and wetlands. It’s the ideal spot to sample the carbon-neutral wines, particularly the shiraz (some of the oldest shiraz plantings date back to the 1860s). With beautiful gardens, underground cellars, cafe and a cellar door overlooking the ancient Goulburn River, Tahbilk is also the place of many hours well spent.

Fans of wine, food and art won’t want to miss Pt. Leo Estate on the Mornington Peninsula with striking views of Western Port and Phillip Island. The 50-acre vineyard creates aromatic pinot gris and sophisticated chardonnays, and these are best sampled after wandering through the estate’s sculpture park – an awe-inspiring, ever-changing, open-air gallery of over 60 Australian and international exhibits.

The newly opened ‘Peter’s Odyssey Tram Bar’ sits pride of place at Terindah Estate. The quirky yet charming bar is a decommissioned old W Class tram which boasts incredible views over Port Phillip Bay. The bar is named after the former owner, who had a vision and dream for the tram, and who sadly passed away at the start of 2022. Peter’s dream became a reality when the bar was officially opened this year. Raise a glass. Related story: 17 of the best virtual wine tastings, so you don’t have to drink alone this weekend