Darling Estate Wines

Darling Estate Wines is a small family-run cellar door at the Koombahla Vineyard, 94 Whitty Lane, Whitfield, in the Upper King Valley. It pours small-batch cool-climate varieties you rarely see at the bigger cellar doors, including aligote, gamay, nebbiolo and riesling, from an outdoor-first deck looking over the vines, and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in that outdoor seating.

The dog setup

Dogs on leads are welcome in the outdoor cellar door area, where tastings and plates happen at tables overlooking the vineyard. The lead stays on because the seating borders working vineyard rows. Bring your own water bowl: the hospitality is warm but a dedicated dog bowl is not guaranteed, and the setup being outdoor-first means dressing for the weather as much as for the wine.

Max: outdoor table, elevated view, a glass of gamay and a dog settled under it. This is the King Valley at its easiest.

Worth knowing

Tastings cost around $15 a head, redeemable on a six-bottle purchase, and a casual sharing and snacking menu runs until late afternoon. Bookings are recommended though walk-ins are generally fine. The cellar door trades Friday to Monday, 11am to 5pm, and closes Tuesday to Thursday.

Getting there and parking

The vineyard sits off the Whitfield-Mansfield Road on Whitty Lane, a short drive from the Whitfield township, with free parking on site.

Close by with the dogs

Dal Zotto Wines on the Wangaratta-Whitfield Road makes a natural pairing for a King Valley afternoon with a dog in tow, and Bunny Jarrett Park Dog Off Leash Area in Whitfield township is the spot for an off-lead leg stretch before a seated tasting.

More of the valley is on the Whitfield destination page, with the full state list under dog-friendly Victorian wineries.