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If you’ve never considered Victoria’s Moorabool Valley for a wine weekend, it’s time to look beyond the usual suspects and onto this quietly brilliant corner of the state. Less than an hours’ drive from Geelong, the valley stretches with undulating vineyards, country roads and cellar doors that are as much about the experience as the wine. Think James Halliday stars, award-winning varietals, and food that will make you rethink your next regional Victoria escape.
The Moorabool Valley sits between the hills of the Geelong hinterland and the volcanic slopes of the Brisbane Ranges. It’s roughly 40 minutes’ by car from Geelong and 90 minutes’ from Melbourne, making it easily accessible for Victorian travellers or interstate visitors. For those who prefer indulgence without logistics, Great Private Tours offer chauffeured tastings across the valley, letting guests focus on the wines while leaving the driving to the experts.
Top Cellar Doors in Moorabool Valley
Clyde Park
From the driveway, Clyde Park gives nothing away. Step inside, and you’re greeted by a James Halliday 5-Star Winery, perched above vines first planted in 1979 that have grown from humble beginnings in pinot noir and chardonnay to a roster now including shiraz, sauvignon blanc, and pinot gris. Sue Jongebloed-Dixon and Terry Jongebloed, who bought the property in the 1990s, have cultivated both vines and venue with equal care.
Cellar door tastings are led by an experienced floor team, often accompanied by the smooth croonings of Etta James and the like, while the timber deck looks out over the valley — a textbook long-lunch setting. Sue studied cookery in Paris and the result is a triumph of a menu: scotch steak and frites, twice-cooked pork belly with warm Brussel sprouts, cauliflower green curry, pumpkin gnocchi, and pizzas ranging from Mediterranean lamb to Peking duck, all thoughtfully paired with the estate’s wines. Terry may well be manning the pizza oven on your visit.
The recently debuted accommodation at Clyde Park is just as considered, ideal for those who want to travel nary a step over 200 metres from lunch to lounge. The Vintner’s Lodge has three bedrooms – La Rose, Stag, and Baroque – plus two bathrooms (essential for groups), al fresco dining, a fire pit and an outdoor bathtub. All styling is courtesy of Sue’s impeccable eye for interiors, extending to the art, wallpaper, breakfast box and even giant yo-yos in the kitchen. Every detail is designed to make a stay feel intimate, indulgent and welcoming.
Austin’s Wines
Just down the road from Clyde Park, about a 15-minute drive, you’ll find Austin’s Wines – a cellar door with serious credentials and zero pretension. Founded in 1990 after Richard and Pamela Austin relocated from their small Waurn Ponds plot, the estate now spans roughly 150 acres under the guiding hand of son Scott and winemaker Dwayne Cunningham.
Riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir, and shiraz are all key players. Austin’s “Woolshed” series, made especially for cellar-door visitors, highlights their best four barrels of the year in pinot noir and chardonnay and is where the winemakers experiment with micro-batch fermentations. Another brand offshoot, 6FT6, is named for William Buckley, the convict who lived with the Wathaurung people after escaping a penal settlement near Sorrento.
The cellar door is housed in a converted corrugated-iron shearing shed, with picnic tables and a sunlit courtyard. On sunny days, it draws a crowd by noon. Food is an essential part of the experience: on our visit, Northern Thai pop-ups from Laam treated us to chunky Ket Baker sourdough with fish paste butter and crispy shallots, raw beef larb on house-made crunchy rice bread, and chicken wings so good all conversation paused. Brined for twenty-four hours, fried, then fried again, the wings were salty, spicy, sour, and sweet – I almost ordered a second portion. A Burmese-style curry, following the chef’s mum’s recipe, rounded out the meal perfectly.
Blame Mabel
Blame Mabel leans into the rustic side of vineyard life. Set on a steep 30-acre site at Mount Anakie, it sits on rich black clays over basaltic rock, with vines among the oldest in the Moorabool Valley. Owners Mel and Gareth bought the property in 2020 and have undertaken extensive restoration, aiming for organic practice and vineyards full of character. And who is Mabel? Their beloved boxer, shy at first, but quick to warm up once she realises visitors are generous with butt scratches.
The cellar door is modest but inviting: board games, a fireplace and a relaxed farm cottage – those are chickens outside. The wine list is compact but expressive, with varietals reflecting the cool-valley terroir. Grazing boards are planned for the future.
Accommodation on-site adds a new dimension: a three-bedroom farmhouse, a standalone one-bedroom cabin, and two one-bedroom suites sharing a wall. Guests are welcome to use the cellar door’s communal lounge, explore the kitchen garden for herbs and seasonal vegetables, and enjoy breakfast boxes. Picnic baskets can be taken up the slope of Mount Anakie on sunny afternoons, making it a perfect spot to soak in the landscape with a glass in hand.
Other Things to Do in the Moorabool Valley
The Moorabool Valley offers plenty more to fill a weekend. Wander wildflower-studded ridges in Brisbane Ranges National Park, hike trails through volcanic terrain, and spot kangaroos and wallabies in spring. Food lovers can visit the Golden Plains Farmers’ Market in Bannockburn on the first Saturday of each month for local produce – berries, cheese, olive oil and more. The region’s arts trail winds through galleries from Ballan, to Bacchus Marsh, providing a cultural counterpoint to vineyard indulgence. Between nature, food, art, and wine, the valley is a Victorian destination that rewards more than just a few hours.
Discover Victoria
Images: Clyde Park: Supplied; Vintner’s Lodge: Wildheart Photography; Austin’s Wines: Claire Dean; Blame Mabel: Supplied; Hero: Supplied.
