Anderson Winery

Anderson Winery is a small family cellar door at 1619 Chiltern-Rutherglen Road, about a kilometre from the eastern edge of Rutherglen. Howard Anderson spent decades making sparkling wine before opening this door in 1993, and daughter Christobelle joined as winemaker in 2005, so the tasting is a genuine winemaker conversation in a rustic, hands-on setting.

Dogs at the cellar door

Dogs are welcome on a lead in the shaded outdoor areas, and this is one of the few Rutherglen cellar doors where well-behaved dogs have been allowed inside the small tasting room as well; confirm on arrival rather than banking on it. There is no fee for bringing a dog, water is usually on hand, and the usual ask is close control around other guests. Bring your own bowl as a backup. The vineyard itself is a working property, so keep the wander to the cellar door grounds.

The vibe

The signature is traditionally made sparkling, with fifty-plus years of Howard's experience behind it, alongside full-flavoured shiraz and durif and classic fortifieds including Muscat and Topaque. Everything is made on site from a low-yielding, unirrigated vineyard, now certified sustainable. It is intimate and low-key rather than commercial, so it suits calm dogs and owners who like unhurried tastings; a quiet fine day shows it at its best. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, closed Sundays.

Getting there and parking

Coming from Rutherglen, head out along Chiltern-Rutherglen Road and watch for the winery about a kilometre past the town edge; from the Murray Valley Highway side it is signposted off the turn-off. Free gravel parking sits right by the cellar door, so unloading the dog is simple. Rutherglen is roughly 40 minutes from Albury-Wodonga.

Pair it with

Nearby cellar doors are similarly relaxed about dogs: Chambers Rosewood and Campbells Wines both welcome leashed dogs outdoors, and Stanton and Killeen is another close option. Over in Wahgunyah, Cofield Wines has lawns and resident winery dogs of its own.

More options are on the Victoria wineries guide and the Rutherglen destination page.