Campbells Wines

Campbells is a fifth-generation family winery on the Murray Valley Highway and one of Rutherglen's best-known cellar doors, with a genuinely relaxed welcome for dogs in the gardens. For dog owners the appeal is the easy outdoor setting: lawns and garden areas where a leashed dog can settle while you work through the fortified line-up the region is famous for.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on a lead in the outdoor garden and lawn areas, including around the Muscat Mews. Indoor access to the formal tasting room depends on how busy it is: staff are often accommodating on a quiet day, but plan on an outdoor tasting through weekend peaks. Water bowls are available, usually put out by staff on request. Bring your own bowl as backup anyway.

One rule is absolute: the lead stays on at all times, because the winery has a resident cat with free run of the gardens and cellar door grounds. A well-behaved dog and a confident cat share this property, so reliable manners matter more here than at most cellar doors.

What it pours

Campbells built its reputation on Muscat and Topaque, the fortified specialities of Rutherglen, alongside aged Durif and Shiraz. Tastings at the cellar door are complimentary, cheese platters are on offer, and the barrel views and picnic tables make the garden a comfortable place to linger on a fine day.

Getting there and parking

The cellar door sits right on the Murray Valley Highway, a short drive from Rutherglen's town centre, with ample on-site parking including room for larger vehicles. Doors open daily (Sundays from 10am to 4pm, the rest of the week to 5pm).

While you're out there

Rutherglen rewards a day of it: Stanton and Killeen Wines and Buller Wines are fellow cellar doors in the same cluster, and Lake Moodemere makes a calm leg-stretch between tastings. More options sit on the Victoria wineries page and the Rutherglen destination guide.

Max: the resident cat is the reason for the strict lead rule, so this is a cellar door for dogs who can ignore a feline supervisor. Well-mannered dogs get a warm welcome on the lawn.