With Melbourne’s booming nightlife, there are many great wine bars to indulge in. The key is to find the best place for your needs, whether you want a glass of wine, cocktails or both.
Cumulus Up has a great vibe and offers a well-rounded selection of wines from around the world. They also serve tasty food to go with your drink.
1. Cumulus Up
As a solution to the overflow that often plagues busy restaurants, wine bars can be a great way to fill in the gaps of a restaurant’s menu. But they can also be dangerous when they’re not done well.
Cumulus Up, which opened in 2013, is one of Melbourne’s best wine bars. Upstairs from the popular Cumulus Inc below, this European-style wine bar has all the makings of a classic.
The space balances edgy luxe and familiar classic, with candescent Laguna lighting by Matteo Thun and parquet timber floors. The brick walls and hundreds of bottles on display create a feeling of warmth and elegance.
Aside from its impressive wine list, Cumulus Up also has a thoughtful and varied food menu. Its small plates and large dishes are carefully crafted by Andrew McConnell and Sam Cheetham, who serve up Pacific oysters, duck waffles, cheeseburgers and house-smoked octopus.
It also offers 24 taps pouring wine, cocktails and a curated selection of independent craft beer from around the world. The drinks menu is divided into categories to help you find the exact tipple you’re after.
2. Embla
Located in the heart of Melbourne CBD, Embla is a sophisticated wine bar that offers simple yet adventurous food. It also serves a variety of beverages including cocktails, beer and wine by the glass.
New Zealand architect Allistar Cox has used dark wood floors and exposed brick to create the rustic vibe of this small laneway bar, which seats up to 60 people. Its wine bar downstairs has a walk-in culture, meaning if you have a bottle you love that isn’t on the list, they will do their best to get it.
The wine list at Embla isn’t huge, but it does have a wide range of different styles from all over the world. The aim is to make wines accessible for those who don’t know much about wine, but want to try something new.
Co-owner and French natural-wine producer Eric Narioo has put together a wine list that isn’t about names and traditional categorisations. It’s about how the wine tastes and where it comes from. McCabe hopes it will encourage everyone to try something new.
3. City Wine Shop
Located at the top of Spring Street, opposite the Parliament building and next door to its neighbours The European and Melbourne Supper Club, City Wine Shop is an important part of Melbourne’s casual wine revolution. It was one of the first to embrace the enoteca model, which allows guests to buy a bottle from the ever-changing wine wall and enjoy it at home or with a dish from the menu for a small corkage fee.
As well as a retail wine shop, City Wine Shop also has a lively bar with an impressive wall of wines and whisky. Its menu is simple and European-inspired, with a continental style breakfast of coffee, pastries and juice, along with soup, salad and hot meals from the blackboard menu.
The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, ensuring visitors find the perfect wine for their tastes. They also have a passion for their work, which is evident in their friendly service. They value training and development, work life balance and showing respect for their team mates and guests.
4. Gerald’s Bar
As one of the best wine bars in Melbourne, Gerald’s Bar has something of a timeless quality about it. Set in Carlton North, it’s a place that can be described as a neighbourhood joint but still manages to feel like a destination for people looking for something a little different than the run of the mill.
When it comes to the drinks, there are a variety of alcoholic beverages available, including wine and cocktails. The bar also features a daily changing kitchen menu so you can try dishes such as Lakes Entrance octopus with kipfler potatoes and red peppers, wallaby with beetroot and spinach or dill-cured salmon with creme fraiche.
The wine list is huge, with bottles of aperitifs, sherries and ports from around the world to choose from. The wines here are all carefully curated, so you can easily find something to suit your tastes.
The atmosphere here is reminiscent of a classic English pub and the vibe here is more laid back than you would think given that it’s an award-winning, internationally renowned restaurant. The decor is simple but welcoming and the sommelier knows his stuff so you can rest assured that you’ll be getting the best wine possible, no matter your taste.
5. Marion
There are so many wine bars in Melbourne that have a great selection of wines to choose from. They have a wonderful atmosphere and are perfect for celebrating special occasions or simply relaxing with a glass of your favourite vintage.
One of the best wine bars in Melbourne is Marion. It is located in Fitzroy and offers fantastic people-watching from its window seats that face trendy Gertrude Street.
With a small but perfectly curated menu and the best selection of wines in Fitzroy, it is hard to go wrong with this bar! Share a bottle with friends, or order an entree or a main from the Chef’s selection.
Another fantastic wine bar in Melbourne is the City Wine Shop. This bar is part boutique bottle store, and also a neighbourhood bar that serves a variety of local and international sourced spirits and wines.
The wine list at this bar is incredibly comprehensive, with staff on hand to help you find the right drink for you. Whether you are looking for a red or white wine, this bar is sure to have something that you will love.
6. The Alps
The Australian Alps are the largest and most diverse mountain range in Australia, stretching from Victoria to New South Wales. They are an IBRA bioregion and home to sixteen national parks – perfect for skiing, hiking, biking or simply enjoying the breathtaking views from the snow-capped peaks.
Protected area management agencies responsible for the Australian Alps have dual mandates to maintain the natural and cultural heritage values of protected areas while facilitating public enjoyment. Tourism is a significant contributor to park revenue, and sustainable use by tourists requires recognition of potential impacts on natural resources and the introduction of effective management practices (Buckley 1999; Worboys and Pickering 2002).
In surveys of staff identified as having major responsibility for tourism management in the Australian Alps protected areas, the most important impacts of tourism use were on water quality, native fauna and vegetation. Impacts on air quality were also considered important, though this issue was less important than those for water and fauna.
7. Neighbourhood Wines
Neighbourhood Wines is a great choice for anyone looking to try a new drink. The wine bar has an extensive wine list and a staff that will help you find what you’re looking for.
With a range of options from Yarra Valley and other Australian wine regions, it’s a great place to taste the wines that are produced here. Its wine menu is organized by grape varieties, making it easy to navigate the different types of wines that are available.
This wine bar is perfect for a night out with friends or family. It has a comfortable, cozy vibe that will make you want to stay longer.
The wood paneled decor and sound system makes it a great spot to enjoy a nice glass of wine or beer with a good meal. It’s also a great option for people who like to watch sports.
This restaurant has a large selection of Australian wine and a friendly staff that is always ready to serve you. It’s one of the best restaurants to visit in Melbourne.
8. Galah
Galah has a seriously impressive drinks list, with rare beers like a Galah Draught on tap and a plethora of cool and quirkiest cocktails. They have also got a menu that is all Aussie inspired, with dishes that feature at least one Australian ingredient.
There is a wine and spirit selection for every taste, including local favourites from Colonial, Bodriggy and Young Henrys, as well as a range of craft beer. There’s even a private tasting cellar for those who love their wine and whisky.
Those who love their food will be happy to know that the bar also offers a number of tasty bites and snacks, such as the charcuterie board and cheese platter. There are also plenty of tasty dishes to choose from if you’re looking for something more substantial.
The bar has a well-curated cocktail list, featuring some of Melbourne’s best mixologists. They serve up a range of classic cocktails, as well as some Australian twists on the classics, such as the Bloody Galah or an eucalyptus-infused martini. The bar also has a great range of Australian spirits on offer, which includes Four Pillars gin and Shene Estate & Distillery’s Poltergeist whisky.
