All Saints Estate, Wahgunyah, Rutherglen Wine Region. Image credit: Murray Regional Tourism
If ever there was a destination made for producing wine, The Murray is it.
Its 2,508 km river supports a rich agriculture industry and the vintners of Australia were quick to plant up vineyards, turning the Murray River region into the third-largest wine-growing region in Australia.
The result for travellers? An abundance of vineyards and cellar doors for you to swirl, sniff and sip your way through.
Whether you’re partial to a full-bodied merlot or a creamy, buttery glass of chardonnay take your taste buds on tour with this guide.
If sustainable wine production is high on your radar then Flyfaire Wines is one for your list.
Focusing on low acreage methods, Flyfaire is a low chemical and low carbon single block vineyard, committed to reducing its environmental impact while continuing to produce high-quality wines.
If you’re interested in learning more about their biosphere, Flyfaire take guided walking tours through their property and into the Woomargama National Park where their vineyard is situated.
The tour includes a picnic lunch with your choice of wine and a stop-off at their onsite waterfall.
While some people are born into winemaking, others dive straight in barrel-first to follow their dream.
The owners behind Posh Plonk found the perfect slice of vineyard-heaven on the shores of Lake Hume in Albury, where their vines have been growing for over 20 years.
If you’re travelling to The Murray via Wangaratta or the east, stop by their cellar door in Chiltern to sample their Rose, Pinot Grigio or Cuvee.
Prepare to feel like a King or Queen for a day with a visit to All Saints Estate.
With a heritage-listed castle dating back to 1864 in the heart of the vineyards, you’ll want to allow enough time to explore the rich history of the Estate and its surroundings.
The winery offers an exclusive tasting, with a selection of limited release wines only available from its cellar door.
Choose to picnic with local produce from their on-site gourmet providore-style store – Indigo Food Co – or book lunch at their award-winning Terrace Restaurant to dine on a seasonal menu overlooking the vines.
What do you get when you combine traditional Italian winemaking with Victorian-grown grapes? Monichino Wines.
Emigrating from Piedmonte in Northern Italy in the mid-1900s, Carlo Monichino turned a passion for winemaking into a reality, developing a vineyard that now holds 25 hectares of vines and produces over 20 varieties of wines.
Located a short 20 minutes drive southwest from Cobram, the Monichino cellar door offers visitors a taste of Italy with classic whites, reds and sparklings.
With one of their two cellar doors backing onto the historical Port of Echuca, if you’re looking for vino paired with a side of history put St Anne’s on your list.
Using grapes sourced from nearby Heathcote, Bendigo, Port Phillip, and Perricoota, their wines range from crisp Sauvignon Blancs to full-bodied Heathcote Shiraz.
Unwine-d with a tasting at their cellar door in Moama and picnic on the vineyard lawns, pairing your tasting with a cheese platter.
For those with a sweet tooth, make sure you try the liqueur made with local Echuca Company Chocolate.
Set on the banks of The Murray River, you may find yourself cruising your way into Morrisons Winery for a relaxing lunch on their historical ‘Wharf to Winery tour’.
If you’re not up for a river cruise, with 15 acres of vines, a playground, and large grass areas to stretch out and relax, it's the perfect place to settle down for an afternoon.
Morrisons also has a craft brewery and beer garden open every weekend, with live entertainment found on the event’s schedule.
The invitation to visit Morrison’s also extends to furry family members - provided dogs are kept on a lead at all times.
All wine is made from grapes. Or is it? Did you know wine can also be created with honey?
If you’re curious to discover the golden talons of honey wine, also known as mead, then the Old School Winery and Meadery are a must-stop destination located in Womboota, New South Wales.
The family-run winery also produces handcrafted traditional grape wine and tastings are held in their cellar door, a former Womboota country Australian school. Alongside the winery is an onsite pottery studio with handcrafted art created by the family and varying artists available from the cellar door.
The Old School Winery and Meadery are pet friendly and you’re welcome to bring along a picnic to enjoy in their quaint cellar-door garden.
Set on 1,110 acres of natural bush and farmland, Restdown Wines is also a certified organic beef farm.
All wines are produced on the property and can be enjoyed alongside a lunch platter or sampled as a basic tasting covering everything from a crisp, dry semillon to a full-bodied merlot.
If you’re looking to delve into nature, Restdown Wines has its very own wetlands walk, for you to stretch your legs on between tastings.
For groups of five or more, farmer Don will happily share his knowledge of the land on a guided walking trail through the wetlands featuring Indigenous heritage sites.
Situated in Caldwell, New South Wales, Restdown Wines is just 40 minutes from Barham and Echuca-Moama.
If you’re travelling along the Murray Valley Highway from Swan Hill towards Mildura, plan a stop and stretch your legs at Andrew Peace Wines.
Located on the banks of the Murray River in Piangil, 41km north of Swan Hill, pack a picnic or bring the esky to fire up the barbeque while you sample wines from one of Australia's top exporters.
While three generations have worked on this local vineyard since the 1960s, the first vintage was released in 1995 with a small grape intake of 1711 tonnes.
These days, you’ll find up to 20 wines available from Chenin Blanc to Shiraz and lesser-known varieties Durif and Zweigelt.
Rosé lovers, listen up.
Put Trentham Estate on your winery tour to sample the 2020 winner for Best Murray Darling Region Wine for their ‘The Family’ Sangiovese Rosé.
You’ll want to allow a little extra time when visiting Trentham Estate with eight additional wines in their Cellar Reserve collection only available at the cellar door.
Located on the New South Wales side of the Murray River, less than 20 kilometres from Mildura, enjoy lush lawns and uninterrupted river views during your wine tasting experience.
Dine alfresco on the lawn or the restaurant balcony from a seasonal la carte menu, or for a more low-key experience grab a pre-made platter from the cellar door fridge.
If you’re dedicating a trip to tick off all the wineries on the list, we’ve done the heavy lifting and mapped it out for you.
Our Winery Trail guides you through The Murray with each destination marked so all you need to do is pack your bags and hit the road.
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