Maddens Rise

Maddens Rise is a boutique cellar door at the corner of Maroondah Highway and Maddens Lane in Coldstream, working its vineyard on biological, low-intervention lines. What sets it apart for dog owners is rare in the Yarra Valley: dogs are welcome inside the tasting room, not just parked on the patio.

The dog setup

Well-behaved dogs can come indoors as long as other guests are comfortable and the room stays calm, and they are equally welcome on the covered patio and surrounding grounds. Water bowls are typically out for visiting dogs. The lead stays on, since the indoor welcome is built on good behaviour; if your dog is restless, the patio keeps everyone happy.

Worth knowing

The wines are small-batch, with pinot noir and chardonnay the picks, and the room is unpretentious and relaxed rather than formal, which is part of why dogs are genuinely accommodated here rather than tolerated. Opening is weekend-only, Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am to 4.30pm, with a tasting fee of $10 per person currently listed. Weekends draw the valley traffic, so an early table improves the odds of a quiet room and an easy indoor visit.

Max: indoor access leans on your dog reading the room. Arrive when the doors open, read the energy, and take the patio without hesitation if the afternoon crowd arrives.

Getting there and parking

The cellar door sits on the corner of Maroondah Highway and Maddens Lane, an easy stop on the main touring route through Coldstream, with on-site parking right at the door.

Pair it with

Nearby Coldstream cellar doors such as Pimpernel Vineyards and St Huberts Cellar Door round out a highway run, and The Yarra Valley Pie Stop is a handy lunch stop with the dog.

For more dog-friendly tastings, see wineries in Victoria, or browse what else is on offer in Coldstream.