Morgans Winery & Distillery

Morgans Winery & Distillery is a small family-run property in Seville on the eastern edge of the Yarra Valley, unusual in that it does both halves properly: estate-grown cool-climate wines, and small-batch spirits made from scratch on site, including the whey-derived base spirit for their vodkas, gins and whiskies. It is a relaxed farm setting, and dogs are welcome.

The dog setup

Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome in the outdoor tasting areas and courtyard, where the seating is rustic and unhurried. Resident winery dogs are usually about, along with geese and sheep grazing near the vine rows, so keep your dog close and leashed until everyone has settled. Water bowls are generally available but bring your own as backup, and call ahead if the weather might push seating around.

Max: half the appeal is the farmyard. Keep the lead short past the geese and let your dog watch the resident dogs work the room.

Worth knowing

Tasting paddles cover both the wines and the spirits, and the gin flights in particular have built the venue its following, along with cocktails such as espresso martinis and cheese and charcuterie platters. Service is personal and unrushed; hens parties book in on weekends, so a Friday or early table suits dogs best. The venue trades Friday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm, and closes Monday to Thursday.

Getting there and parking

The property is at 30 Davross Court, Seville, about an hour and a quarter from the Melbourne CBD, with gravel parking on site beside the tasting area.

Close by with the dogs

Seville Estate is another cellar door in the same pocket of the valley, and Seville Recreational Reserve Dog Off Leash Area gives the dog a proper run before a tasting. For lunch afterwards, Carriage Cafe is the local favourite.

More of the valley is on the Seville destination page and in the Victorian wineries list.