With its forested hills and sweeping views of rocky mountain ranges and vineyards, the Grampians is one of Victoria's most captivating wine regions. It has a rich history and significance to First Nation's people (you can view rock art dating back over 20,000 years), and also played a role as a hub for the Gold Rush in the 19th century. Following the Gold Rush, the region's vinous history took off, with many considering the Grampians the birthplace of Australian sparkling.
Today, the Grampians is a veritable hub for a wide variety of activities and events. If adrenaline-raising activities are your thing, there are challenging hiking trails and opportunities for rock climbing among the craggy peaks. Or if you prefer to take things slower, you can head to one of the many destination restaurants or historic cellars for a glass of wine.
In regard to cellar doors, you can't visit the Grampians without stopping by Grampians Estate, Mount Langi Ghiran and Mountainside Wines. We spoke to the winemakers below about why they love working in the Grampians, what to expect from a visit to their cellar door, and, they let us in on their favourite local spots.
Or, if you're not in the area, get a taste of the Grampians with each producer's recommended wine below.
Grampians Estate
Winemaker Tom Guthrie says: Grampians Estate is a small family-owned and operated wine business. Myself, Sarah and daughter Pollyanna manage the Mafeking vineyard (est. 1989) and Great Western vineyard (vines planted 1878) to produce premium cool-climate wines led by regional heroes shiraz and sparkling shiraz. Great Western is the spiritual home of sparkling shiraz and this year we celebrated 20 years of our Rutherford Sparkling Shiraz.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Grampians?
TG. As the saying goes, great wines are made in the vineyard. The Grampians has proven to be a great region for growing premium red wines, especially spicy cool-climate shiraz. Every vintage is like Xmas, what beautiful surprises will it deliver? The local terroir just keeps delivering, making the job of the winemaker exciting, rewarding and a joy.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
TG. All our wines (including sparkling, whites, reds and a fortified) are available for tasting thanks to an Enomatic wine dispenser which keeps wines fresh. The new winery cafe’s lunch menu is headlined by our home farm’s lamb pie, which has been marinated in our Mafeking Shiraz. A spacious outside deck looks over the shiraz vines. Look out for special events at the cellar door, including Greg Champion on December 22 and a sparkling shiraz masterclass on January 26. Visit our website to book.
Wine to try
2021 Grampians Estate Rutherford Sparkling Shiraz
Shows aromas of raspberries, blackberries and spice. The colour is deep red with a purple tint, the mousse a beautiful crimson froth when poured. The palate is full bodied with good tannin balanced by some added sweetness. Lots of delicious red berry fruit flavours. Drinks magnificently now but will age for a decade or two. Won a Silver Medal (90/100) at the 2024 Ballarat Wine Show.Best enjoyed: Pair with our farm lamb pie at the cellar door, Christmas turkey, choc mousse and fresh raspberries or cheese and biscuits as an aperitif. Serve chilled (24 hours in the fridge) in sparkling glasses with a happy group of friends.
Favourite local spot: We live beside the Grampians National Park, we look at Major Mitchell Plateau every day. The Grampians are large, beautiful and striking and attract thousands of visitors every year. To be anywhere near or in the mountains is a wonderful feeling and is a great counter-balance to the crazy life of running a winery.
RRP $40 | Drink to 2036 | grampiansestate.com.au | Shop this wine
Mount Langi Ghiran
Chief winemaker Adam Louder says: Established in 1969, Mount Langi Ghiran set a benchmark for the cool-climate winemaking style in the region, focusing on site expressive shiraz, cabernet and riesling.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Grampians?
AL. I love the isolation and the cool climate. With the warm summer days and cool evenings, the season gets drawn out, which adds complexity to the wines we create.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
AL. Visiting the Mount Langi Ghiran cellar door is a must if you’re in the region. It’s one of the most breathtaking sites in the country, hands down. You’ll get to try wines exclusive to the cellar door and be treated to an educational tasting through our range, including back vintage shiraz and riesling. Light lunches and tasting platters are available as well.
Wine to try
2021 Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz
Medium-to-deep crimson. On the nose, black fruits, black olive, pepper and vanilla. With a broody intensity, this wine shows an amalgam of black, blue and red fruits on the palate, with mulberry at the forefront. Both spicy and earthy, it displays hints of purple florals and is structured by supple yet persistent tannins. Scored 98 points by Halliday Wine Companion.Best enjoyed: Pair with slow cooked local lamb or a thick, juicy steak with mushrooms. Vegetables are optional. Serve at room temp (14–16°C if you can). Decant for an hour or so and enjoy with good company.
Favourite local spot: We have a few favourites. The Royal Mail Hotel at Dunkeld, the Bunyip Hotel in Cavendish and also the Halls Gap Pub, which is great if you have kids. We tend to visit Simon at Grampians Wine Cellar. He has an excellent range of local and international wines and has an incredible amount of knowledge. Let him sort you out for all your wine needs. Best’s Great Western is a must visit cellar door, too.
RRP $210 | Drink to 2044+ | langi.com.au | Shop this wine
Mountainside Wines
Co-owner and winemaker Jane Oninon says: As a small winery owned and operated by us, we make wine onsite only from the grapes grown in our three vineyards, which were planted in the mid-1990s with viognier, nebbiolo and shiraz. Managed by hand, we have a minimalist philosophy, using organic practices to look after the vines. Wines are not blended and fining agents are not used in our red wines with the intent to produce soft, clean wines showcasing our terror and the location of our vineyards.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Grampians?
JO. The Grampians is classed as a cool-climate wine region with warm days and cool nights, which adds depth and structure to our wine. The soil – granite over loam – lends itself to a finely structured viognier, showcasing our location (we're nestled in our own little valley protected from the worst of winter’s harsh winds and frosts). The combination of our location and the warm summer weather means that our unwooded viognier shows itself to its best with fresh, dry, fruity and light aromas and flavours full of gooseberry and citrus.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
JO. Our cellar door is open every day from mid-December to the end of January from 11am to 5pm (and 11am–5pm Monday to Friday the rest of the year). Tastings of our wines are provided by fellow owner Shane and myself, and cheese plates and grazing platters are available for purchase. Located in a picturesque valley between three mountains with stunning views, visitors can enjoy their tasting in the cellar door or in our courtyard overlooking the viognier vineyard. Also available is our rustic function room for small groups up to 20.
Wine to try
2021 Mountainside Wines Viognier
A finely structured, dry, unwooded wine with fresh fruit and lively flavours and aromas of gooseberry and citrus. This wine won the category of Best Other White Wine in the Ballarat Wine Show in 2023.Best enjoyed: Pair with creamy cheeses, fish or chicken. Serve just below room temperature, 11–13°C, in a viognier glass.
Favourite local spot: Located three kilometres down the road from the vineyard is Mount Cole State Forest/National Park, where we can four-wheel-drive or bushwalk to Red Bluff, which gives us 180-degree views of the Grampians region. This is a regular spot hang gliders use to launch their gliders and, if you are lucky, you will see our resident eagles.
RRP $30 | Drink to 2027 | mountainsidewines.com.au | Shop this wine
