Hounds of the Vine

Judges’ comments 2025:

When a cold wet day cant dampen the charm of a venue you know you are on to something good.  A rustic  setting set amongst the vines, with some very friendly livestock is the first thing you are drawn to, and this becomes part of the eclectic but charming experience later on as you are encouraged to feed the animals with leftovers from lunch. The cellar door is an intimate space- small but inviting with an excellent music selection of records and turntable. There is also a private tasting room for those who want time and space to consider each of the estate grown wines. Our waiter greeted us as we arrived, making us feel warm and welcome, and this feeling continued as were shown attentive and excellent service throughout our experience. The host takes significant pleasure in sharing his beautiful wines with people, and he was charming and engaging, sharing with us many stories about the vineyard and the wines. Having only been open for 18 months, this venue has plenty of time to expand and develop, and with the quality of the wine and the excellent hospitality shown to their customers, Hounds of the Vine will be a definite drawing card for the Bellarine.