Summer is the ideal time to unwind at one of the many wineries scattered throughout central Victoria.

At Taltarni Vineyards, guests can visit the cellar door and relax amongst the rolling, rugged hills and stunning backdrop of Victoria’s beautiful Pyrenees wine region.

With 250 acres of vineyards, and 1500 acres in total, the sweeping vistas provide the perfect place to unwind and enjoy award-winning and cellar door-exclusive wines.

Cellar door manager Jo Russell said as well as wine tasting, visitors are invited to a variety of activities, such as live-music afternoons and painting classes at the cellar door, to make the most of their time in the Pyrenees.

“I am finding that the live performances add to the relaxed mood at cellar door,” Jo said.

“As well as tasting our magnificent range of wines, we aim to provide a space where our guests can wind down and watch the world go by for a while.

“People can relax in a beanbag, lounge by the fire or at the tables on the veranda for an afternoon of free live music, wine tasting and grazing on one of our cheese platters.”

Budding artists are also making the most of the stunning backdrop, with Painting in the Pyrenees events proving popular with guests.

Established in 1969, Taltarni Vineyards is one of the pioneering wineries of Victoria’s Pyrenees wine region. Owner John Goelet, a direct descendant of the Guestier wine merchant family of Bordeaux, discovered and purchased Taltarni Vineyard after conducting a worldwide search for a site comparable to the great vineyards of Bordeaux.

The first wine from Taltarni Vineyards was released in 1977; immediate success followed with the wine collecting gold at the Royal Melbourne Show – an early acknowledgment of the potential of the vineyard. This award-winning tradition continues today with Taltarni Vineyards recognised by James Halliday as a 5 Red Star Winery in the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion.