Wine, Gin, and Cider Stops for Winery Tours From Melbourne
Planning a winery day from Melbourne does not have to mean doing the same usual route every time.
Yarra Valley and The Mornington Peninsula are popular for a reason. But Bass Coast and South Gippsland also have beautiful local producers, country roads, coastal views, and relaxed venues worth adding to the list.
This guide is for groups looking for winery tours from Melbourne with a more local feel, especially for friends, social clubs, seniors groups, Probus-style groups, retirement villages, and community groups.
Key Takeaways
- Winery tours from Melbourne can include more than the Yarra Valley.
- Bass Coast and South Gippsland offer wine, gin, cider, food, and scenic stops.
- The best group day usually includes fewer stops, more time, and a relaxed pace.
- Kylie can help shape the outing around your group, pickup area, date, and comfort needs.
Why Look Beyond the Usual Winery Tour Route?
A winery day sounds simple until someone has to organise cars, check directions, sort parking, and skip tastings because they are driving.
With a group tour, everyone travels together. The conversation starts on the bus, the day feels more social, and the organiser does not have to carry every little detail alone.
Cruisin’ With Kylie is built around friendly, hosted group transport across Melbourne, Bass Coast, South Gippsland, and regional Victoria. The brand focuses on flexible pickups, custom outings, seniors groups, community groups, social clubs, winery tours, coastal escapes, and relaxed day trips.
That makes this kind of list useful. It gives groups real venue ideas, while still leaving room to shape the day around what suits them.
Loch, VIC 3945
Gippsland Wine Company is one of the strongest South Gippsland wine stops to consider for a group day.
It is based just outside Loch Village, about an hour and a half from Melbourne. The cellar door is open Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm, with bookings advised for wine tastings.
This stop works well for groups that want a true local wine experience without heading to the same larger wine regions each time.
The cellar door looks over the vines and offers tasting flights, wine by the glass or bottle, local beer, cider, non-alcoholic drinks, and platter-style food from the providore fridge.
Best for: small-batch Gippsland wine, vineyard views, tasting flights, platters, and relaxed South Gippsland touring.
Wattle Bank, VIC 3995
Harman Wines is a great option when the group wants wine and food in one stop.
It sits near Inverloch and Wonthaggi, which makes it a strong Bass Coast and South Gippsland option. It can suit groups that want a winery lunch, local wine, and a relaxed country setting.
The venue is connected with coastal Gippsland wines, tapas, local produce, and wood-fired pizza. Some venue details can change by season, so group bookings should always be checked before the day is locked in.
This can work well for seniors groups or social clubs because the stop can feel less rushed. Instead of only doing tastings, the group can sit down, eat, talk, and enjoy the setting.
Best for: winery lunch, wood-fired pizza, social groups, relaxed celebrations, and Bass Coast outings.
Wonthaggi, VIC 3995
Not every group wants a wine-only day.
Mates Gin Distillery in Wonthaggi is a fun add-on for groups that want something different. It gives the day a local producer feel and can suit groups where some people prefer gin, cocktails, or a lighter drinks stop.
Mates Gin says more than 50% of its profit is contributed to charity each year. That gives the stop a story beyond the drink itself.
This could work well as an afternoon stop after lunch, or as part of a wine, gin, and local food day around Wonthaggi and nearby areas.
Best for: gin lovers, mixed drink groups, local producer stops, and community-minded outings.
Leongatha, VIC 3953
Fleet Wines is a boutique South Gippsland stop that suits smaller groups who enjoy a more personal tasting.
Their cellar door offers a hosted tasting of six wines paired with seasonal snacks. The experience is designed to feel unhurried, personal, and immersive, with bookings essential.
Wine Gippsland lists the Fleet Wines cellar door in Leongatha and notes Saturday and Sunday opening from 12 noon to 5 pm.
This is not the kind of stop to add without checking details first. But for the right group, it could be a lovely slower tasting with a more thoughtful feel.
Best for: smaller groups, hosted tastings, wine lovers, boutique cellar door visits, and slower-paced outings.
Glen Forbes, VIC 3990
Bass River Winery is another strong local option for South Gippsland and Bass Coast routes.
The cellar door is in Glen Forbes and is listed as open every day except Wednesday, from 10 am to 5 pm, or by appointment.
This can make it easier to consider for weekday or flexible group trips, compared with venues that only open on weekends. Still, group bookings should always be confirmed before advertising a stop.
Bass River Winery can suit a relaxed route with country scenery, a tasting stop, and a lunch venue nearby.
Best for: flexible cellar door planning, local wine, country roads, and relaxed South Gippsland touring.
The Gurdies VIC 3984
The Gurdies Winery adds a scenic Bass Coast feel to the list.
Visit Melbourne describes The Gurdies Winery as overlooking Western Port Bay in the Bass Coast region of South Gippsland. The listing also notes cellar door facilities and coach parking, which is useful when thinking about group travel.
Wine Gippsland also notes the winery has views over Western Port Bay, a large cellar door facility, and garden areas. It lists opening hours as Friday to Monday, 11 am to 5 pm.
This kind of stop can work well when the group wants wine, views, and a scenic pause in one place.
Best for: Western Port Bay views, cellar door visits, photo stops, Bass Coast touring, and scenic wine days.
Foster, 3960 VIC
Gurneys Cidery is a good option when the group wants a break from wine.
It can suit mixed groups where not everyone drinks wine, or where the day needs a lighter and more casual stop. Cider, views, and food can make the outing feel more varied.
Visit South Gippsland describes Gurneys as an award-winning cider cellar door in Foster, with cider tasting, views, antipasto plates, and house-made Pinsa Romana.
For group travel, this type of stop can work well after a winery lunch or as the main local producer stop on a South Gippsland day.
Best for: cider, food, views, mixed groups, and relaxed South Gippsland outings.
Kardella South, VIC 3950
Djinta Djinta Winery can suit groups that want wine, food, and a venue-style stop.
Wine Gippsland describes Djinta Djinta as a South Gippsland winery with a cellar door, red and white wines, and the deVine restaurant upstairs. The restaurant offers contemporary meals with views across the vineyards.
The winery is located between Korumburra and Leongatha, just off the South Gippsland Highway. Its own site describes the property as a 34-acre winery and multifunction venue.
This may suit a group looking for a longer meal stop, a function-style venue, or a more settled winery visit.
Best for: winery lunch, vineyard views, functions, longer stops, and South Gippsland routes.
How to Choose the Right Stops for Your Group
The best winery tour is not always the one with the most stops.
For many groups, two or three well-chosen places will feel better than a packed day. This gives people time to taste, eat, talk, take photos, and enjoy the drive.
A good group plan may include:
- One main winery tasting
- One booked lunch stop
- One extra producer stop, such as gin or cider
- One scenic lookout or local stop if time allows
How Your Winery Tour from Melbourne Could Unfold
A relaxed group day could start with pickup from Melbourne, Bass Coast, South Gippsland, or one shared meeting point.
From there, the group could head towards South Gippsland for a first tasting at Gippsland Wine Company, Fleet Wines, Bass River Winery, or another suitable cellar door.
Lunch could be planned at a winery, country hotel, local café, or venue such as Harman Wines or Djinta Djinta Winery, depending on the date and group size.
The afternoon could include Mates Gin Distillery, Gurneys Cidery, The Gurdies Winery, or a scenic stop before the return trip.
You can get inspired by this, but this is only a sample. The final route should depend on your pickup area, date, group size, venue availability, and the pace your group enjoys.
Why a Hosted Group Tour Makes the Day Easier
A hosted winery day is not just about transport.
It is about making the day feel easy from start to finish. Someone is thinking about the pickup plan, travel timing, comfort stops, lunch timing, and the flow of the day.
Cruisin’ With Kylie provides group transport for seniors, clubs, villages, community groups, and social groups. Kylie is a Registered Bus Operator under the Bus Safety Act 2009 in Victoria, with fully insured registered buses and a Heavy Rigid licensed driver.
That gives organisers more peace of mind, especially when planning for older guests or community groups.
FAQs
What are the best winery stops in South Gippsland for groups?
The best choice depends on your date, group size, route, and lunch plans.
Can a winery tour include gin or cider?
Are these stops guaranteed?
It is best to treat these venues as planning ideas, then confirm the right stops before the day is finalised.
Are Bass Coast and South Gippsland good for winery tours from Melbourne?
They may take longer than a standard Yarra Valley tour, but they offer a different kind of experience.
Are winery tours suitable for seniors groups?
A good seniors group itinerary should allow time for pickup, toilets, lunch, comfort stops, and a relaxed return trip.
Ready to Plan a Local Winery Day?
A winery tour from Melbourne does not have to follow the same old path.
Your group can enjoy local wine, cider, gin, food, scenic drives, and friendly hosted travel across Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
Tell Kylie your date, pickup area, group size, and the kind of day you have in mind. From there, the stops can be checked and shaped into a relaxed outing that suits your group.
Call or text: 0448 182 272
Email: kylie@cruisinwithkylie.com.au
Plan Your Winery Day
Use this guide to compare local wine, gin, and cider stops, then shape the day around your group.