When it comes to wine regions, the Pyrenees Wine Region is known for its rolling vine-blanketed hinterland that is drawing streams of thirsty crowds.
The Pyrenees is ideal for a winery day trip or weekend away. While you’ll find big names and labels like Blue Pyrenees, Taltarni and Summerfield, we recommend taking the time to experience boutique drops at the cellar doors of smaller producers, where personal attention and expertise is guaranteed.
Peerick
At Peerick, what makes them unique is their deep connection and respect for the ancient and fragile country from which their wines are derived. It permeates everything they do from their viticultural practices to wine making. They are totally committed to maintaining a rich, healthy, sustainable and bio-diverse eco-system for their vines to thrive in. They hand pick and hand prune all their vines. Peerick minimises their use of synthetic chemicals and fertilisers and while not certified organic, abide by organic principals. Their wines are vegan friendly and are wild yeast fermented and only vegan friendly fining agents, if required, are used in their production.
Their name, derived from the Aboriginal word ‘beeric’, a ‘wild cat’, was bestowed on their region by its traditional custodians, the Dja Dja Wurrung. Their beliefs and dream time stories, together with the triskele from our Celtic culture, are proudly depicted on the Peerick wine label. Visitors of Peerick Winery may enjoy the cellar door or participate in grape picking or nature walks. They even have three tiny houses on the property so you can spend the night and really take it all in. The cellar door experience is intimate and personalised and will feel like you are reconnecting with old friends.
St Ignatius
With a heritage expanding over three continents, including Italy and Argentina, St Ignatius Vineyard is the house of Malbec. This fine Bordeaux varietal is one that speaks to the senses, intrigues the mind and appeals to the heart. When chatting to owners, Silvia and Enrique, you will gain an understanding around why the grapes are exclusively hand-picked from their single vineyard. Learn about the innovative protocols, best winemaking practices and why St Ignatius Vineyard continues bottling their reds under premium natural cork.
Sallys Paddock
This dog-friendly cellar door and tasting room is set to become your new weekend go-to. Located along the Sunraysia Highway near Redbank, Sallys Paddock is all about good wine and great ambience. This year, Neil and Sally celebrated 50 years of Sallys Paddock wines. Just like the winery the cellar door building itself boasts a proud and intricate history. Neil built the building with his own hands from recycled hand-made bricks and provides a fabulous ambience to taste the wines and also enjoy Sally’s delicious hand made dishes.
Stop in on Saturday and you will find local musician, Graeme Akers playing his banjo and guitar. A visit to Sallys Paddock won’t only have you tasting exceptional wine, but Sally is also a whiz in the kitchen and creates beautiful cakes, jams relishes and more. Stop in for a tasting and stay for lunch! Open 7 days.
Mount Avoca
A world away from the hustle and bustle of the city and suburbs, a scenic drive past organic vineyards brings you to the relaxed and friendly cellar door of Mount Avoca. Discover how they became accidentally organic. This is a second generation vineyard with over 50 years of experience. We know you will be impressed with the wines and the experience. The small-scale winery is creating a big reputation for itself as one to watch. A playground is on site so your little ones will be entertained giving you more time to relax and choose your favourite wines.
Bigibila
If there’s one place to add to our boutique Pyrenees winery bucket list, it’s Bigibila. This picturesque estate is not only producing elegant premium wines; it is also boasts some of the most stunning scenery n the region.
Nestled on top of a hill in the village of Moonambel, this stunning cellar door literally feels like a home among the vines and olive groves. This is the place to visit if you want to sip premium wines at a modern winery with a rural outlook.
Dogrock Winery
Allen, a winemaker, and Andrea, a viticulturist, established Dogrock Winery over 20 years ago and together they are producing award winning ultra-premium and sustainably produced wines and to make it even more impressive, they are doing it all off grid!
Their house is litterally dug into the ground slightly, with the bottom storey surrounded by earth for cooling, and solar and a small wind turbine is their electricity source. The winery was built using concrete culverts normally used in roadworks to help create an environment in which they could make and store wine in a consistently even temperature.
Of course, Allen and Andrea’s main focus is on creating wines with minimal intervention while respecting the traditional European way of producing wine. What sets their wines apart is that they are balanced, elegant, and full of flavour, as compared to other wines that are high in alcohol and use overripe grapes.
Dogrock Winery also recently installed an electric vehicle charging station for its patrons so electric cars can charge up while they are having a tasting at cellar door. As Dog Rock Winery are off grid all power generated to fuel the cars is emissions free!
Mrs Bakers Still House
Not a boutique Winery but it is a micro distillery! Nestled in the Pyrenees Ranges about an hour out of Ballarat you’ll find the tiny hamlet of Glenpatrick. Little more than 30 people live in this pristine valley, where grazing land joins rugged forest. This is the home of Mrs Baker’s Still House, a female lead micro-distillery making award winning gins and liqueurs. Many of the botanicals used in the gins and liqueurs or grown on site. Jane and team are passionate about harnessing flavours of the place where they live and you can find out all about the gin making process and their flavours with a gin tasting at cellar door.
Forest Gate Winery
Forest Gate Winery is one of the Pyrenees newest cellar doors. With the vineyard established in 2004, the vines are still relatively young with plantings of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Forest Gate Estate is the type of cellar door where you can experience the friendly service and commitment of a small boutique estate while relaxing in a comfortable atmosphere with family and friends. Owner, Chris Goodall, will make you fell right at home as he takes you through his wine varieties.
The cellar door provides an open environment with both indoor and alfresco courtyard areas. Both areas overlook the vineyard and neighboring forest and are the perfect place for a glass or two.