Wine Tasting in the Macedon Ranges
Did you know there are 27 cellar doors regularly open in the Macedon Ranges to explore?
Most of our producers are boutique and family owned. As a result, visitors are offered a unique, personalised experience to learn firsthand from some of Victoria’s best artisans of wine.
A cellar door adventure in the Macedon Ranges usually means you’ll be talking directly with the people who grow the grapes and make the wine.
Watch this short video to get a feel for what a Macedon Ranges wine tasting experience is all about…
About the Macedon Ranges Wine Region
The Macedon Ranges Wine Region is located less than an hour from Melbourne. The region grows some of the finest cool climate grapes in the land, with vineyard altitudes in the region range from 300 to 800 metres above sea level.
It is an outstanding wine region, offering wines that are diverse, limited in quantity and exceptionally high in quality.
Cool Climate Wine Tasting
There are over 21 grape varieties grown across the Macedon Ranges.
Popular varieties of the region are delicate sparkling wines, refined chardonnay and award winning pinot noir.
In vineyards surrounding Lancefield, Romsey and Trentham, delicate floral aromas can be found in the wine due to slow ripening during cool autumnal temperatures.
Moving beyond Kyneton toward the rocky outcrops to the Cobaws, more robust styles can be found with Shiraz and Cabernet.
Love a good bubbly? The native “Macedon Sparkling” is famed in the region. It’s made to an agreed style, using only Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes sourced from the Macedon Ranges.
What to Expect from Cool Climate Wines
Despite the varietal spread across the region, the Macedon Ranges’ cool climate has a unifying influence on the style of wines.
Firstly, our cool climate wines are more perfumed than their warmer region counterparts.
Secondly, they are usually in the light to medium bodied spectrum.
Finally, the natural acidity not only preserves the freshness of the wines, but increases the length of the palate and after taste.
Design Your Own Wine Tasting Trail
Macedon Ranges Wines has teamed up with clever app Twenty Five Doors so you can create your very own customised wine tasting itinerary.
Your personal itinerary is 100% free and gives you a mapped guide of cellar doors you’ll love, its rating, and a little bit of information to help you have a great time there. Simple!
Food and Wine Tasting
Why not turn your wine tasting adventure into a mini epicurean soiree? Here are a few Macedon Ranges wineries that serve food or tasting platters…
- At Gisborne Peak Winery you can enjoy a meal on their outdoor deck with views of the vines, or relax next to a cozy fire with hot pizza or prawns. Stay in their eco-cottages for a wine getaway close to Melbourne.
- Hanging Rock Winery arrange gourmet picnic hampers and make sure to try their very own range of Hanging Rock Speckled Beef. Open 7 days.
- If you’re visiting Mount Macedon on the weekend, Mount Towrong Winery offer popular Italian-style tasting plates. Or pay a visit to Mount Macedon Winery, serving shared style dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Open Thursday to Sunday from 11.30 to 4.30pm. Call 03 5427 4172 to make a booking and check if they’re booked out for an event.
- In Lancefield, Cleveland Winery Estate’s Carriage House Restaurant menu covers everything from wood-fired pizzas for lunch to intimate dinners. They also have on-site accommodation to make a weekend of it.
Pay a visit to Mount Towrong Winery for Italian-style platters and wine.
Macedon Ranges Wine and Food Festival
The Macedon Ranges Wine and Food Festival in November offers guests a personalised experience tasting new and exclusive wines and learning first hand each wine and winemaker’s story.
It is the perfect opportunity to take a break from the hectic pace of spring and take a deep breath. Winemaking is a gentle process and this is a big weekend of gentle celebration.
Take your time and taste the best wine and food that the Macedon Ranges has to offer. All the producer-families have a great story, all are characters and all are passionate about what they do.
The 2020 festival has been cancelled. Stay tuned for 2021 festival announcements here.
