Andrew Buller Wines

Andrew Buller Wines is a small, family-run cellar door at 352 Jacks Road, about 2.5 kilometres from the Rutherglen town centre. It is a separate venture from the larger Buller Wines on Federation Way, so check the address before you set off. For dog owners the setting is the draw: a homestead verandah and quiet gardens shaded by century-old trees.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on a lead in the gardens and on the verandah, where water bowls are put out. This is a small boutique operation rather than a high-traffic cellar door, so plan to sit outdoors and keep your dog settled while the tasting happens at the table. There is no fee for bringing a dog, and the low-key layout suits a calm animal far better than a busy weekend crowd.

The vibe

Third-generation winemaker Andrew Buller works with estate-grown, hand-picked fruit farmed organically-in-conversion, with sparkling shiraz, durif, chardonnay and Rutherglen's signature fortifieds in the range. Tastings are intimate and personal, often hosted by the winemaker himself, and open daily from 10am to 5pm except Christmas Day.

Pepsi: this is a verandah-tasting, not a bar-tasting. Pick a shady spot in the garden, let the dog sprawl and take your time over the fortifieds.

Getting there and parking

Jacks Road runs a few minutes out of town, with on-site parking beside the cellar door. The drive is flat and easy from Rutherglen's main street, and there is no signage maze to navigate once you are on the road.

Pair it with

Other Rutherglen cellar doors on the same dog-friendly circuit include Campbells Wines and Stanton & Killeen Wines, both of which welcome dogs in their outdoor spaces, and Chambers Rosewood Winery continues the fortified theme.

The full regional list is in the Victoria dog friendly wineries guide, and the town's other entries sit on the Rutherglen destination page.