West Melbourne and Beyond

Mt Macedon Winery

Nestled in the lush landscapes of Victoria, Australia, Mt Macedon Winery stands as a beacon of viticultural excellence and rustic charm. This remarkable winery, with its picturesque settings and cool climate, offers an unforgettable experience for both the connoisseur and the casual visitor alike. From its sprawling vineyards to the meticulously crafted wines, every aspect of Mt Macedon Winery exudes quality and passion for the art of winemaking.

The drive to Mt Macedon Winery is certainly unique. Whether you drive from the western Woodend side or from the eastern Mt Macedon Road you drive through some of Macedon Regional Park. Driving through basically native bushland seems a bit weird and then you come to the gates of Mt Macedon Winery. The juxtaposition between nature vs man-made is strong and definitely makes an impression before you even arrive at the winery.

Mount Towrong Vineyard Macedon — *Image: West Melbourne and Beyond.*

Background: The vineyards at Mt Macedon Winery are a testament to the region’s ideal winemaking conditions. The cool climate, combined with the fertile soils, creates the perfect environment for growing a variety of grapes. The winery specializes in producing exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, among other varieties, each reflecting the unique terroir of the area.

Positioned on the western slopes of Mount Macedon, the winery offers stunning views of the Black Forest Valley below. At an elevation of 680 meters above sea level, it ranks among Australia's highest-altitude wineries. The journey of Mount Macedon Winery began in 1989 when the first vines took root in the region's fertile volcanic soil.

Wine Tasting: A visit to Mt Macedon Winery is incomplete without a tasting session. The winery offers a comprehensive tasting experience, guided by knowledgeable staff who share insights into the winemaking process and the nuances of each wine. It’s an educational journey through the flavors and aromas that define this winery’s offerings, from robust reds to crisp whites, all of which leave a lasting impression on the palate.

The wine tasting consisted of four different wines rnaging from a sparkling, a Rose, Chardonnay and Cabernet Merlot. Mt Macedon's premiere wine though is the Pinot Noir so ask politely and they might give you a try depending on how busy they are. I seem to like my reds more full bodied or heavier so although I did manage to try the Mt Macedon Winery Pinot Noir I actually preferred the Cabernet Merlot. Great for me as the merlot is less expensive!

Dining: You actually have two options when it comes to dining at Mt Macedon Winery. You can choose to I guess low brow or slightly more down to earth in the Cellar Door area or go to their UUMM restaurant next door.

We cannot comment on UUMM until we manage to dine there personally. However we do know that you can choose to up looking towards the the mountain with the vineyard in the foreground or choose the opposite view looking down towards the valley. There is also an outdoor dining area at UUMM if the weather obliges. At UUMM you have choice between either a two or three course set menu. Your mileage will vary on whether this suits you and at least you have the Cellar Door dining option as your backup.

The Mount Macedon Winery Cellar Door dining offers food in a more casual environment and maybe a better option if you have children. The cellar door dining offers a pretty impressive pizza selection, charcuterie board, sides, desserts and a set menu option.

We'd already eaten out before arriving at Mt Macedon Winery so when we next visit we'll update this blog with more information on the food.

Mt Macedon Winery overall has a very slight corporate feel to it. This is part in parcel with wineries that are slightly larger in scale or size than some of the boutique wineries. This isn't a negative against Mt Macedon Winery as it just can't be helped as businesses scale up, it's just more of an observation.

Of course part of visitng wineries is just getting out into the countryside, having a break from normal workday life and enjoying yourself. Mt Macedon Winery certainly succeeds in this role and driving through a portion of Macedon Regional Park to get here adds to the experience.

Anyway, it all sounds pretty enticing and a bit different too. I appreciate this somewhat different menu as after a while lots of restaurants seems to have an almost generic menu. Brownie points from us for their differentiation. Really appreciated.

We personally bought two bottles of the Grenache. I am no Grenache expert so cannot comment as to the quality. However, the vanilla and clove notes were somewhat unique to me and enough to make it buy for us.

Location

Mt Macedon Winery is located at 433 Bawden Rd, Woodend VIC 3442 approximately 1 hour from Melbourne CBD.

If you are already in Macedon then it's only an 14 minute drive from the town centre and likely even closer if you are on the main tourist road (Mount Macedon Road) in Mount Macedon.

When

Our cellar door is open Saturday & Sunday between 11.30AM and 4.30PM. Tastings are available at the restaurant outside of these days.

In A Nutshell

Mt Macedon Winery is well worth your inclusion on a day trip to Mount Macedon. For casual diners the cellar door dining is perfect for a laid back lunch while you do the wine tasting and is a nice environment for the kids.

Only a short drive off Mount Macedon Road (the main tourist road) via Douglas Road and Bawden Road to Mt Macedon Winery makes a visit very accessible.

TIP: Come here on a Saturday and save yourself 10% on the Sunday surcharge.

Come here on a Saturday and save yourself 10% on the Sunday surcharge.

Love wine? Take a trip to Mount Towrong Vineyard and make a day of it. Hint drive through Macedon Regional Park via Bawden Road, Douglas Road and Mount Macedon Roadand shave 10-15 minutes off the drive to Mt Macedon Winery from Mount Towrong Vineyard. Basically turn left as you exit Mt Macedon Winery and keep driving.

Note: Google maps will take you on a circuitous drive taking much longer so take this shortcut.

Nearby Attractions

Mount Towrong Vineyard
Hesket Estate Winery
Mount Monument Winery (15 minutes drive from Mt Macedon)
Hanging Rock Winery (15 minutes drive from Mt Macedon)
Mr Macedon Cafe
Forest Glade Gardens
Bringalbit Open Garden
Camel's Hump (Macedon)
Sanitorium Lake (Macedon)
Stanley Park Falls (Macedon)
Hanging Rock

Nearby Attractions in Kyneton

Kyneton is only a 25 minute drive away from Macedon and has a number of attractions including more wineries! Plan ahead for your next visit to Central Victoria.

Guide to Kyneton: Check out our guide on some of the great things to do in Kyneton.

The Mt Macedon Winery website

The Mt Macedon Winery website is here.

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