{"id":2103,"date":"2022-03-11T02:28:06","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T15:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/northern-victorias-ultimate-winery-experiences\/"},"modified":"2025-02-19T14:56:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T03:56:46","slug":"northern-victorias-ultimate-winery-experiences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/northern-victorias-ultimate-winery-experiences\/","title":{"rendered":"A Taste of Europe in Victoria: Ultimate High Country Winery Experiences"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

North of Melbourne, amid<\/strong><\/em> the rolling alpine peaks and lush greenery of Victoria’s High Country<\/em><\/strong>, these wineries draw inspiration from<\/strong><\/em> their continental cousins.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the King Valley’s Italian-inspired ‘Prosecco Road’, to Portuguese grape varieties hanging from the vines, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in the climes of Europe rather than just a few hours from Melbourne, at these wineries in Victoria’s High Country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn to blend the perfect drop for your tastebuds with Tahbilk\u2019s cellar door manager, sip a bubbling glass of prosecco on a hilltop above Pizzini\u2019s vines, explore the unseen pockets of Feathertop Winery\u2019s private grape-laden vineyard and while away an afternoon over a charcuterie picnic on Brown Brothers\u2019 lawn.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together with Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia<\/a>, we unearth Northern Victoria\u2019s unmissable cellar doors and experiences \u2013 each with their own distinct European style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pizzini Wines \u2013 immerse yourself in Northern Italy along the Prosecco Road <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Pizzini. Image credit: Rob Blackburn <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to leave Victoria to experience la dolce vita; instead, sip the fruits of Northern Italy at Pizzini Wines, just three hours from Melbourne. The vineyards here are a kaleidoscope of Italian varietals (think prosecco, sangiovese and nebbiolo), which can be enjoyed at the cellar door or outdoor prosecco picnic area (the ultimate Instagram spot). But for the true vino connoisseur, you can’t go past Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia\u2019s The Maker\u2019s Journey.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a 4WD through the mosaic of vines to a secluded hilltop, where your Wine Ambassador \u2013 sometimes Joel, the chief winemaker, other times Chaz, expert cellar door manager \u2013 will pop a bottle of prosecco over a red-and-white table-clothed barrel and regale you with the history of Alfredo and Katrina Pizzini. From the 1978 vineyard, venture into the winery and weave between stainless steel tanks, concrete fermenters and oak barrels; learning how wines age and taking your angel\u2019s share using the \u2018wine thief\u2019 tool for a tasting right from the source.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning to the cellar door, take a seat in a private tasting room within Pizzini\u2019s former tobacco drying kiln (the King Valley used to be strewn with tobacco farms). It\u2019s here you\u2019ll swirl, sniff and sip some of the finest wines outside of Italy \u2013 if Chaz is your Wine Ambassador, you\u2019ll soon learn to love the nebbiolo varietal. Finish your journey in the courtyard, beautifully framed by rows of roses, where you\u2019ll enjoy Mama Pizzini\u2019s cooking legacy and Katrina\u2019s expert farm-to-plate produce with an antipasti platter and your favourite glass of wine. Saluti.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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