Ballarat, Victoria

Synonymous with the gold-rush era of Victorian history, Ballarat remains a robust region and its wineries are gaining attention for pinot noir and chardonnay in particular. Although steeped in history, with an impressive architectural backdrop reminding visitors of its rich past, Ballarat is certainly contemporary when it comes to its wining and dining scene, making the area is a hot destination for foodies and wine lovers.

Ballarat Wineries Itinerary

The cooler climate in Ballarat lends itself to delicate pinot noir, distinctively spicy shiraz and the light-straw hues of chardonnay. The vineyards offering these classic Ballarat styles are generally within 30-45 minutes of the Ballarat CBD, approximately within the area north of Meredith and Rokewood, and south of Daylesford and Clunes.

Take a car and drive around the cellar doors in the area, or join a guided wine tour if you plan on indulging at your tastings. There are dozens of cellar doors to explore in the nearby Pyrenees wine region, where you could easily spend a few days enjoying the rolling hills and local ironbark forests and reserves.

Stop off in local cafes and restaurants to taste the best offerings straight from the paddocks and vines.

The Best Time to Visit Ballarat for Wine Tastings

Ballarat’s climate is cooler than many of the wine regions to the north, making it ideal for growing pinot noir and also a good choice if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy daytime tastings without extreme heat during summer. Ballarat’s winters reach a cool low of 3 degrees celsius, and while its summers are moderate, temperatures can hit 30 degrees. If you want to be sure that you’ll be comfortable exploring the local history, gardens and vineyards, the best time to visit Ballarat is in the autumn (March to May) and spring seasons (September to November), when the weather is more temperate.

For wine tasting, this also means you can enjoy the best of both the reds and whites that the region has to offer, with warmer days ideal to enjoy a chardonnay in the sunny afternoon, and evenings cool enough to rug up with a nice bottle of pinot.

Things To Do in Ballarat

Take advantage of the region’s great coffee, craft beers and, of course, wine varieties in the many local restaurants and cafes.Once you’ve found your gourmet treasures, you could pan for gold in the streams of Sovereign Hill, where you can step back in time to the 1850s. This open-air, living museum provides a unique opportunity to experience what life was like during the world’s greatest alluvial gold rush.

The Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka provides a more traditional look at the effects of the gold rush, and in particular its impact on the birth of Australian democracy. For more history, visit Australia’s oldest regional gallery in the town centre or retrace the steps of the historic uprising at the original site of the Eureka Stockade Rebellion. The Ballarat Tram Museum offers a scenic trip around the surrounding areas on Ballarat’s old transport, or you can take a stroll around the Botanic Gardens, exploring the flora and fauna that the cool climate produces.