Why Visit Oakridge?
- You’re looking for the best views and the best wines in Yarra Valley
- In addition to the typical varieties found in Yarra Valley, you’d love to try more unique varietal wines like Meunier, Sémillon, and late harvest Pinot Gris
- You enjoy a tasting experience hosted by knowledgable and fun staff
- You want to taste the wines made by Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine’s 2017 Winemaker of the Year
- You’re in search of the most Instagrammable vineyards the region has to offer
Originally established in 1978 along a ridge of oak trees in upper Yarra Valley, Oakridge is a family-owned winery that is not to be missed. The winery, cellar door, and restaurant are picturesquely located amidst 10 hectares of Oakridge’s gorgeous and pristinely kept estate vineyards. The views alone are enough to draw in any driver meandering through Yarra Valley, but the wine is what keeps people coming back again and again.
Current chief winemaker David Bicknell came on board with Oakridge in 2002. Over the last 17 years, Bicknell has lead Oakridge to claiming 486 metals or awards and 29 trophies. In 2017, Bicknell even claimed the title of Winemaker of the Year from Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine and it’s easy to see why! I thought the wines were stunning, representative of the region, and honestly the best wines I tasted while in Yarra Valley.
Oakridge aims to produce wines which signify style and taste. The winery focuses first on quality viticulture, both within their own estate vineyards and with their team of growers in other Victorian sites – Coldstream, Hazeldene, Willowlake, Murrummong and Funder & Diamond Vineyard. Upon visiting Oakridge, you really will have the opportunity to taste the best wine Victoria has to offer. And you’ll be tasting with a spectacular view!
Bicknell and the winery team employ traditional winemaking techniques with minimal intervention, allowing all of the magic that happened in the vineyard to shine through in your glass. They rely on their cumulative experience from previous vintages to only intervene in the winemaking process when necessary. This often translates to allowing for fermentation on natives yeasts, minimal pumping and plunging, use of various sized barrels, and minimal racking and filtration.
Tastings & Experiences
Not only were the wines and the views at Oakridge my favorite in all of Yarra Valley, but the tasting experience was also the best I had in the region. The cellar door is stylish and modern with floor to ceiling windows set behind the tasting bar so guests can soak in the scenery as they belly up to the bar for a tasting. The staff are incredible – super friendly and very knowledgable about the wines on offer and the region in general. I wish I wrote down the name of the girl who served us because she made our experience a blast!
There are a ton of wines to choose from on the tasting list, so I recommend letting the cellar door staff guide you through the tasting. Oakridge is widely recognized for their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, but don’t shy away from trying some of the more unique wines like the Meunier or the the late harvest Pinot Gris. Trying new things is was wine tasting is all about! I absolutely LOVED the Meunier and went home with a bottle for myself. Oakridge also offers multiple single-vineyard wines, which are always fun to taste and give a feel for the specific site where the grapes were grown.
Cellar Door Tastings – Oakridge offers complimentary cellar door tastings on a walk-in basis for parties of fewer than 8 people. If you are planning to visit with a group of 8 or more, bookings are required.
864 Range Tastings – $20 per person. Refundable with any 864 wine purchase. Explore Oakridge’s premium range and taste the four 864 wines.
Virtual Tastings – Available in the cellar door. Listen as chief winemaker David Bicknell guides you through a tasting of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz.
Masterclass – $45 per person. Appointment only with a minimum group size of 6 people. Taste current releases alongside back vintage and Oakridge 864 wines, perfectly matched to tasty canapés designed by Chef Matt Stone. Enjoy this experience in a private tasting room.
The Oakridge Restaurant – Boasts one Chef’s Hat and showcases seasonal produce under the leadership of Co-Executive Chef’s Matt Stone and Jo Barrett. Experience the region’s thriving ingredients and wild produce discovered on foraging and fishing excursions.
