Sutherland Estate

Sutherland Estate is a small, family-run cellar door on the Melba Highway in Dixons Creek, pouring cool-climate pinot noir and gewurztraminer behind floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the valley. For dog owners the pitch is simple: a relaxed outdoor tasting over the vines, weekend hours only, and an easy run along a highway lined with cellar doors.

The dog setup

Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome in the outdoor alfresco and garden areas, where the valley outlook makes an outdoor tasting the best seat in the house anyway. The indoor tasting room is generally kept dog-free, and policies here can shift, so call ahead before you drive out rather than assuming. Bring your own water bowl and treats, since the estate does not always keep them on hand. Keep the lead on throughout; this is a working vineyard.

Worth knowing

Weekend-only opening, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm, means the outdoor tables fill quickly on fine days, so arrive early or book. Alongside the wines there is on-site tower accommodation if you want a stay-and-taste option with the dog. Tasting styles and fees are worth confirming when you ring.

Max: weekend hours mean Saturday lunches get busy. Ring ahead, claim a garden table, and you and the dog will both be happier than squeezing into the indoor room.

Getting there and parking

The cellar door sits directly on the Melba Highway at 2010 Melba Highway, Dixons Creek, roughly 15 minutes from Yarra Glen. The entrance arrives quickly on a fast stretch of road, so ease off early. On-site parking is straightforward, including accessible spaces close to the door.

Close by with the dogs

Steels Gate Wines is a short drive up the same highway, and Yarrawood Estate near Yarra Glen has lawn areas where a leashed dog settles easily. For a longer day out, Locale Restaurant at De Bortoli is just down the road.

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