Squires Winery

Squires Winery is a family-owned, solar-powered cellar door on the banks of the Ovens River at 6900 Murray Valley Highway, Esmond, sitting between Yarrawonga and Rutherglen. For dog owners the draw is the expansive outdoor space where dogs are genuinely welcome, paired with a casual lunch menu and estate-grown wine.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome across the outdoor areas, including the lawn and the spots overlooking the river, and they must stay on a lead. Indoor cellar door access with a dog is likely restricted, so plan on settling in outside, where water bowls are usually provided.

Keep your dog under strict control and carry water in warm weather. Special ticketed events, such as the long weekend fixtures, may specifically exclude pets, so check the calendar before you head out if one is running.

The vibe

Paul and Bern Squires opened the winery in 2021, producing estate Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet with solar power driving the irrigation, the house and the cellar door. There is an onsite olive grove and a kitchen built around local produce, with cheese platters anchoring a relaxed lunch menu.

The riverside setting is the other half of the appeal: you can arrive by boat on the Ovens River, and the rural block feels a world away from the highway a few hundred metres off. The cellar door trades Thursday to Sunday from 11am, closing Monday to Wednesday, with Friday nights running late to 10pm.

Getting there

The driveway is just off the Murray Valley Highway between Yarrawonga and Rutherglen, roughly 15 to 20 minutes from Yarrawonga, which makes it an easy stop on a regional loop. There is ample on-site parking with room for larger vehicles.

Pair it with

Squires sits at the gateway to the Rutherglen wine district, so a loop is straightforward by car. Jones Winery & Vineyard & Restaurant and Chambers Rosewood Winery & Vineyards make natural Rutherglen stops, with Cofield Wines across the river in Wahgunyah.

More options are on the Victorian winery guide and the Esmond destination page.