The Gurdies Winery

The Gurdies Winery is a relaxed, family-owned cellar door at 215 Gurdies-St Helier Road, perched above Western Port Bay with panoramic views towards Phillip Island. For dog owners the draw is simple: dogs are welcome across the spacious outdoor and garden areas, so you can settle in with a tasting paddle, a BYO picnic and some of the best water-and-vineyard outlooks on the Bass Coast.

The dog setup

Dogs can join you on the lawn, picnic grounds and outdoor seating on a lead, under control at all times. The indoor cellar door counter is generally off-limits for food safety reasons, so order and head back outside with your paddle. There is no stated on-site water provision, so bring your own bowl, and a fixed lead rather than a retractable one keeps things tidy at the table.

The vibe

Picnics are central to the experience, with visitors encouraged to bring their own food to pair with the estate-grown cool-climate wines: chardonnay, riesling and cabernet sauvignon, plus cheese boards from the cabinet. The setting is rustic and open-air, and the venue also hosts local events, live music on occasion and small functions, so check what is on if you want quiet or want company.

Getting there and parking

The winery sits off the Bass Highway between Grantville and Corinella, with ample unsealed on-site parking. It opens Friday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm, including public holidays, and no booking is needed for a regular visit.

Make a day of it

Pair a tasting with an off-lead run along the shore at Corinella Dog Beach a few minutes up the road, or swing south to the San Remo dog beach before crossing the bridge to Phillip Island.

More options are on the Victoria dog friendly wineries guide and the The Gurdies destination page.