Seppelt

Massive, massive winery. Towering rows of stainless steel vats act like a colossal proclamation of this place's productive powers. Inside, the cellar door is large and equipped for bus loads. A lot of wines here and it's worth surveying the range for a moment in order to select the varieties and price range most suitable for your tastes. Of course, the Shiraz was a stand out. Do the premium tasting for a fee and try some truly remarkable Shiraz.

Bests

This place is old. Very old. The cellar door/barn tries to reflect this and I couldn't help thinking it was contrived for show but it was probably all genuine. There were lots of wines on show and as usual in this region (as well as Pyrenees, Heathcote and Bendigo) the whites taste okay, nice even, but are then overwhelmed by the reds, specifically Shiraz. However, the Rieslings were excellent. The Pinot Noir was good here and the Pinot Noir Meunier blend is one I like, although I've had better. The Shiraz was good value. Unfortunately, the premium stuff was not available for tasting which is always a downer. I really appreciate wineries that offer the really good stuff for tasting, even if I have to pay a tasting fee and even if this cannot be reimbursed with a purchase. However, I have tasted the Bin 0 Shiraz before at a wine show in Melbourne and it was fantastic. The sweet stuff here is very good also. An assortment of delicious muscats, fortified and tokay await the sweet tooth.

Taltarni

I've seen this label around so was expecting a large establishment and this was certainly the case. Lots of buildings for functions etc. However, we were lucky to be the only ones there which always leads to a more pleasant experience as you have the full attention of the host. There are a lot of wines to try here. The reds were very good of course, including a heady Heathcote Shiraz, and a good value, rich Cabernet. But they all lead to one of the nicest Cabernet-Shiraz blends I've tasted.

Dalwhinnie

A gem. One of those rare wine visits that has everything. As you drive up alongside old, gnarled vines, carefully pruned, you enter a significant ampitheatre of large dimensions and peaceful, remote beauty. The cellar door is modest but bright, overlooking some of the vine covered slopes. The slopes here are gentle and in all directions and must provide a joyous home for fine vines. There were three ranges on offer and regardless of your snobbiness, I encourage you to try to drink now range, as it will impress for what it is. But move on and you know you've come to a special wine place. If you handle it pay the $5 and taste the single estate Shiraz's. They are each distinct and divine (and priced accordingly). I can dream of a day...

Warrenmang

Nice drive off the main roads, this winery boasts lovely views and seclusion. The cellar door is rustic and charming and if you ask about the underground tunnel behind the counter the host may lead you through to the winery and give you a tour. The volumes are big here but the quality is high. The drink now stuff is not totally simple; really pleasant and easy as you'd expect but with a light richness. There are lots of wines produced here but not all were on tasting when we were there. The showcase wines were all lovely. The Grand Pyrenees, a delicate but robust blend shows off the regions reds. The Estate Shiraz is deep and heavy with spice. The Black Puma is an even more premium Shiraz not on tasting and beyond my wallet but reports are good. The Torchia is a blend, not only of varietals but of vintages over ten years. Not on tasting this did tempt me and I'll open on a suitable occassion. Lunches and dinner menus look lovely. A lot to like here.

Summerfield

I'd read good things, recent five star rating and all that, but I could've find a wine I really liked. The site is average, being off site away from the vines on a main road with no views. The Reserves were okay but not even close to worth the price.Wholly unimpressed.

Redbank

Quite a nice site with places to sit outside and in if you need it. They serve delicate tapas of small proportions, nice for a snack but expensive if you need to fill up. The wines were unimpressive until ...Sally's Paddock. I realised then that all the others were produced simply to blend and refine to produce a consistently high quality big red blend. They probably bottle the others individually just to meet the demands of the visitor and of course make some extra cash. But make no mistake, this is a one wine winery. And it's a very, very good wine. I need more to fully understand it. Not cheap, but not ludicrous.

Mount Avoca

What a lovely site to enjoy wine! Food also available and would be a lovely place to sit and watch the day pass. The cellar door is light and comfortable and the host friendly and hospitable. The range has some good whites but the reds are really what you come for. Both the Cabernet and Shiraz are full but with delicacy and offer a good value example of the region. The Reserves of each are naturally more complex and longer and very enjoyable indeed. Some very interesting oddities also, including Frizzante, essentially a lightly alcoholic grape juice you could drink with breakfast and a sparkling Shiraz which wasn't my cup of tea but my wife liked it. There were some other sparklings, a wooded Sav Blanc that was impressive and an excellent Viognier. I'll go back to try the Tempranillo when they have more of it!

Blue Pyrenees

Big, established, high volume place. Lovely buildings and gardens as you walk up to the large cellar door that also sells food on weekends. I was very disappointed with the wine. Having written that, there were lots of sparklings that I didn't try, maybe they were good. There was also an assortment of desserts. This place had the feel of a tourist stop over, maybe some of their premium wine, not available to me and you is good, who knows?