Macedon Ranges wine region guide

The Macedon Ranges wine region is one of Australia’s coolest areas for vino – literally, and figuratively. Known for its arts and foodie scenes as well as beautiful natural surroundings, it’s a tranquil escape from the bustle of Melbourne – but only an hour away. Discover how to get to this region, how long to stay, and what to do while you’re there (including winery recommendations, of course)!

Where is the Macedon Ranges wine region?

The Macedon Ranges are located at the south end of Australia’s Great Dividing Range, a massive chain of hills and mountains that runs down the east side of the country (from northern Queensland to Victoria). 

The edge of the Macedon Ranges wine region is less than 60 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne, so you can reach it in under an hour’s drive along the Calder Freeway. If you’re heading there from the airport, it’s even closer – a mere half hour hop.

The region is also easily accessible by train, with regular V-Line services from Southern Cross Station stopping in several towns in the region: Gisborne, Macedon, Woodend, Kyneton and Malmsbury.

Those towns form a rough south-north axis to this compact region, which also spans west past Daylesford and east past Lancefield (two towns less than an hour’s drive apart). The small size of this region and its short distance from Melbourne make it easy to cover a lot of ground in a weekend or even a day trip from the city – and it’s possible to book a wine tour if you want someone else to take care of the driving.

Macedon Ranges is one of 21 wine regions in Victoria, and shares borders with the Sunbury region to its south and the Heathcote and Bendigo regions to its north.

History of the Macedon Ranges wine region

The people of the Kulin nation have inhabited the region for tens of thousands of years. 

Europeans arrived in the 1830s, and after the discovery of gold in surrounding areas (Castlemaine, Bendigo, Ballarat) in the 1850s – well, there’s no prizes for guessing what happened. Being located between Melbourne and the Goldfields, the Macedon Ranges became bustling with businesses providing hospitality and practical needs for gold miners seeking to strike it rich.

Later in the century, Melbourne’s wealthy elite began settling, and many of the grand Victorian houses and gardens they built remain as historical attractions today.

The region’s first vines were planted in the 1860s, but the modern wine industry only started to get going in the 1970s.

The Macedon Ranges wine region now has about 215 hectares under vine and 40+ boutique, family-run wineries – including at least two dozen with cellar doors for you to visit.

What kinds of wine is the Macedon Ranges known for?

Being a boutique wine region, you’ll find relatively low-quantity but high-quality drops here (with premium price tags to match). You may not recognise any of the winery names, but they’re well worth getting to know!

The high altitude of the Macedon Ranges wine region, with vineyards ranging from around 300 to 800 metres above sea level, help give it the coolest climate of all wine regions on the Australian mainland. So it’s no surprise that the most successful grapes here are similar to the ones you’ll find in Tasmania: think pinot noir and chardonnay. Like Tassie, it’s also known for its sparkling wines (which are made from the aforementioned grapes).  

Macedon Ranges pinot noir is considered to be some of the best in Australia. It’s lighter-bodied in cool years, and fuller-bodied when the weather is warmer for the vintage. 

The region is also known for some robust reds – cabernet sauvignon and peppery, spicy shiraz – and aromatic whites like gewürztraminer and some of Victoria’s best riesling (with high acidity and floral and citrus aromas).

Wineries to visit in the Macedon Ranges

There are over two dozen cellar doors to choose from on your visit to the Macedon Ranges. Here are a few to get you started:

• Mount Macedon Winery, perched on a hillside, has a minimalist cellar door open on weekends (serving woodfired pizzas) and a separate restaurant on site offering 2- or 3-course meals.
• Mount Towrong Vineyard leans towards Italian varietals like nebbiolo and vermentino. You can enjoy their drops along with a Mediterranean-inspired menu of share plates at their cellar door, nestled between the namesake and Mount Macedon.
• Hunter Gatherer uses grapes from their own vineyard and sourced from neighbouring areas (in the spirit of their name) to produce an interesting range of wines with funky stamp-style branding, including sparklings and pét nats. You can sample 9 wines for $10 with their wine flight at the cellar door, with a platter of nibbles to accompany it if you’re peckish.
• Hanging Rock Winery offers complimentary wine tastings at their cellar door seven days a week. You can also build your own cheese platter to enjoy at their picnic tables, wander their sculpture trail, or even buy their beef products to take home (and serve with a well-matched wine, of course).
• Passing Clouds, in the village of Musk (a few minutes from Daylesford), runs their vineyard on regenerative and biodynamic principles. Their cellar door is open 7 days for wine tasting, plus they serve a three-course set lunch from Thursday to Monday.

When to visit the Macedon Ranges

There’s really no bad time for a visit to the wineries in the Macedon Ranges.

In spring and summer, make the most of the sunshine on winery lawns and decks. Look out for live music and other special events.

The area enjoys spectacular colours during autumn, and celebrates with an Autumn Festival throughout April. 

In winter, choose cosy accommodation and book an indulgent multi-course meal.

How long to stay in the Macedon Ranges

As it’s in easy reach of Melbourne, you can fit quite a lot into one day: either design your own Macedon Ranges day trip or book a tour. It’s also a lovely area to spend a night or two.

Where to stay in the Macedon Ranges

There’s abundant accommodation in the region, from secluded country stays to boutique hotels in towns.

I stayed at Stonelea in Glenlyon, a well-appointed studio overlooking beautiful gardens and bushland – perfect for a couple’s escape. I also had my eye on Hotel Frangos in Daylesford. For the ultimate luxe experience, check out Clifftop at Hepburn.

Other things to do in the Macedon Ranges

Get outdoors to enjoy the forests full of waterfalls – you may even spot a wombat or koala. There are easy walks, such as the loop around Lake Daylesford, as well as more serious hiking trails. For panoramic views, climb Camel’s Hump or explore Hanging Rock Reserve. Yes, that’s Hanging Rock as in the famous story – it’s a perfectly safe (and popular) spot to picnic.

The Daylesford and Hepburn area at the western edge of the region is known as Australia’s spa country. Book in for a soak or a treatment at the Mineral Spa.

The area has a thriving food scene, with beloved local bakeries (RedBeard in Trentham is worth going out of your way for) and upscale restaurants abounding. The beverage scene also goes well beyond wine: Daylesford alone has Daylesford Cider, Daylesford Brewing Co and The Daylesford Hot Chocolate Company.

Looking for more areas to explore? We’ve got you covered there. Explore all Victorian wine regions.