Best Geelong Wine Producers to Know

A little bit about Geelong wine

Geelong is a deceptively diverse wine region. Stretching from the Moorabool Valley through the Bellarine Peninsula and down the Surf Coast, it encompasses different soils, exposures and microclimates.

That diversity is part of what makes the region so interesting. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Shiraz are among the varieties Geelong is particularly known for, but Riesling, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and a growing collection of other varieties all have a place here.

For us, the most exciting thing is the range of voices. There are producers working with old vines and established vineyards alongside a newer generation exploring site, farming and winemaking in different ways.

By Farr

If you know Geelong wine, chances are you know By Farr. Gary Farr and his family have been making some of the region's most sought-after wines from the Moorabool Valley for decades, with a focus on small parcels and wines that balance power with detail. Nick Farr now at the helm is making some of Australia's best wines, right here on our doorstep.

The range we're particularly interested in includes Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Viognier. There's a real sense of precision across the wines, but they never feel overly worked or polished at the expense of place.

By Farr has also picked up some serious recognition along the way. The Real Review named Wine by Farr Australian Winery of the Year in 2022 and again in 2025 — a reflection of the consistency and standing the winery has built over time.

At Claret: Look for By Farr Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Viognier.

Bannockburn Vineyards

Bannockburn is one of the names that comes up again and again when talking about serious Geelong wine, and for good reason. Established in 1976, the estate sits in the Moorabool Valley and has become particularly associated with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, alongside a broader range of varieties. A fun fact: Zara's dad worked at Bannockburn 20+ years ago as the vineyard manager when Gary Farr was the chief wine maker.

The 1314 range is a particular favourite of ours, especially the 1314 Pinot Noir and Shiraz. The Estate wines give you another perspective on the vineyard, with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc all represented.

There's also something very nice about being able to drink Geelong wine while sitting at our bar in Geelong. Right now we're pouring the brand-new 2026 Estate Riesling, which is a pretty good excuse to come in and try a glass.

At Claret: 1314 Pinot Noir, 1314 Shiraz, Estate Pinot Noir, Estate Chardonnay and Estate Riesling.

Provenance

Provenance has been making wine in the region since 1997, with a focus on vineyard provenance and wines that express where their fruit comes from. It's a producer with a particularly strong connection to Shiraz, but the broader Provenance portfolio reaches well beyond it.

We love the Geelong Shiraz, particularly for the combination of cool-climate structure, savoury character and regional identity. Provenance is also a good reminder that Geelong Shiraz doesn't need to be a big, heavy wine to have presence.

At Claret: Provenance Geelong Shiraz.

Mulline

Mulline is one of the newer Geelong producers that has quickly become a name worth knowing. Since launching in 2018, winemaker Ben Mullen and the team have built a portfolio that explores the region's different sites rather than treating Geelong as one uniform place.

In 2025 Mulline was named the 2025 Halliday Best Value Winery. Highlighting that value will never go out of fashion, something that Conor and I will always be passionate about when you step through the doors at Claret.

The range spans Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Skin Contact Pinot Gris and Syrah, with single-vineyard wines offering an even closer look at individual sites. We particularly like the way Mulline approaches Pinot Gris. The classic version is fresh and textural, while the skin-contact bottling takes the variety somewhere altogether more savoury and interesting.

At Claret: Mulline Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Skin Contact Pinot Gris, Single Vineyard Pinot Noir and Syrah.

Oakdene

Over on the Bellarine Peninsula, Oakdene has long been part of the Geelong wine conversation. It's a producer with a broad range, but there are a few bottles we find ourselves coming back to.

The sparkling is an easy place to start, particularly if you're looking for something local to celebrate with. If you're curious about how Australian sparkling fits into the wider world of bubbles, we've also written about Champagne vs sparkling wine.

The Blue Label Pinot Noir and Blue Label Shiraz show another side of the Bellarine, with wines that have plenty of regional character without losing their drinkability.

If you find yourself down along the Bellarine, their Cellardoor & restaurant Mr Grubb should be top of the list for a visit.

At Claret: Oakdene Sparkling, Blue Label Pinot Noir and Blue Label Shiraz.

Circulus

Circulus is one of the newer names we're particularly excited about in the Geelong region. Based at Coatsworth Farm on the Bellarine Peninsula, Circulus is a small, family-run project making wines that feel distinctly shaped by their maritime home.

John White and his wife Kim purchased the property in 2021, bringing John back to a long-held passion for wine after a 30-year career in finance. The vineyard is surrounded by sea breezes and is being farmed regeneratively, with a focus on improving the health and biodiversity of the site.

The name Circulus — a circle — makes a lot of sense when you hear the story. It's about coming back to a dream, but also about the circular approach to the land: composting, cover crops, integrated livestock, biodiversity and reducing the resources brought in and out of the farm.

The wines are vibrant, cool and savoury, with a real sense of maritime influence. We particularly like the Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Pinot Noir — three varieties that show just how broad the Geelong region can be.

At Claret: Circulus Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Pinot Noir.

Longboard / Bellbrae Estate

Down on the Surf Coast, Bellbrae Estate has been making wine since 1999, just minutes from Bells Beach. It's a particularly interesting part of the Geelong region, with the proximity to Bass Strait creating a maritime influence and relatively even temperatures through the growing season.

The wines are released under both the Bellbrae Estate and Longboard labels. Longboard is the more immediate, fruit-driven range — wines made to be enjoyed now, without too much ceremony. Bellbrae Estate sits at the more serious, age-worthy end of the spectrum.

The Longboard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the bottles we tend to reach for at Claret. They're bright, fresh and distinctly cool-climate, while still having enough flavour to work beautifully with food.

There's also a new chapter unfolding at Bellbrae. Simon Steele joined as viticulturist and winemaker in 2024 after almost a decade at Medhurst in the Yarra Valley, bringing a fresh perspective to an established Surf Coast estate. We're excited to see where the wines go from here.

At Claret: Longboard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with Bellbrae Estate releases as they land.

Geelong wine, according to Claret

This is by no means the complete list. Geelong has far more producers, vineyards and interesting bottles than we could fit into one article — and that's exactly why we like the region. Think of this as a starting point. If you know a producer, ask us about them. If you don't know where to start, tell us what you normally drink and we'll point you towards something local that makes sense.

One of the great things about being a wine shop and bar in Geelong is that we get to explore the region alongside the people who live here. Sometimes that means a serious bottle of Pinot Noir. Sometimes it's a glass of Riesling at the bar. Sometimes it's discovering a producer we'd never heard of six months ago. That's the version of Geelong wine we're interested in: local, curious, diverse and very much still evolving.

Come into Claret and explore a little bit of Geelong with us.

A few bottles we think are worth knowing about...

We always feel so lucky to be able to stock wonderful things on the shelf that we think will bring some level of discovery, excitement but above all else quality for you. Some are already established names. Others are producers we think you’ll be hearing us wax lyrical about in store. Either way, if you see something interesting on the shelf, ask us about it. We’re always happy to point you towards something new.

Good times call for Claret xx

Zara Wilkens

Orange Wine, Explained Without the Lecture

Orange wine tastes as good as it looks. Sometimes peachy and tropical, sometimes floral and savoury, often textural, always capable of making a table look approximately 40 per cent more fun.

It can also attract explanations with the length and emotional weight of a minor thesis. We will not be doing that. Here is orange wine without the lecture: what it is, why it has colour, what it tastes like and where to begin.

Chillable Reds: Yes, Red Wine Belongs in the Fridge

Red wine belongs at room temperature. Sure—if your room is a chilly European cellar and not an Australian kitchen in January.

The better rule is simpler: some reds are absolutely delicious with a bit of fridge time. A good chillable red wine is bright, light on its feet and wonderfully easy to drink. It brings the juicy pleasure of red fruit with the refreshment usually assigned to white or rosé. Less ceremony. More “shall we open another?” energy.

Geelong Wine, Without the Homework: Where to Start

Geelong wine is close enough to feel local, varied enough to keep surprising you, and—if we are being honest—occasionally discussed as though everyone arrived with a geology degree. You did not. Excellent. This Geelong wine guide is the useful version: three parts of the region, three grapes to know, and a very easy way to choose your first bottle.

What Wine Should I Bring to Dinner? A Claret Guide

Someone has invited you to dinner.

You've been told not to bring anything.

You're obviously bringing something.

But what? Choosing a bottle for someone else's dinner can be surprisingly stressful. You don't know exactly what's being served, whether they're a red or white person, what they've already bought, or whether your host is secretly judging your wine choices.

Don't worry Claret family. We've got you.

Champagne vs Sparkling Wine: What’s the Difference?

Champagne is sparkling wine. But sparkling wine isn’t Champagne...

It sounds simple, but there’s a surprisingly big world hiding behind those two words. At Claret, we’re big fans of Champagne. We’re also big fans of Australian sparkling, Loire Valley bubbles, Crémant, pét-nat and pretty much anything else that makes an excellent bottle of fizz. So, what actually makes Champagne different? And if Champagne is off the menu — whether because of price, occasion or simply because you fancy trying something new — what should you drink instead?

Let’s get into it.

Spring Drinking: The Wines We’re Reaching For

Spring has arrived, and with it comes a very important change in drinking habits.

Longer afternoons, windows thrown open, the first lunches outside and those evenings where nobody seems particularly interested in going home. Suddenly, we're looking for wines that feel a little lighter, fresher and more energetic.

At Claret, we've been stocking the shelves accordingly.

From cool-climate Victorian Chardonnay and plenty of bubbles to bright, chillable reds and European varieties, these are some of the wines we're reaching for this spring.

Negroni Month at Claret

September is Negroni Month at Claret.

For the entire month, we're giving one of the world's most iconic cocktails the attention it deserves — with six different takes on the Negroni pouring at the bar.

If you're already a Negroni person, you'll know exactly why we're excited. If you're not, September is a very good time to become one.

The Claret Father's Day Gift Guide

Father's Day isn't just about dads. It's a chance to celebrate the people who have been there for us — whether that's Dad, a stepdad, grandfather, father figure, or someone who has stepped into that role along the way. And, of course, there are plenty of single mums who've been doing double duty and deserve a good bottle too.

So, whoever you're celebrating this Father's Day, we've done the hard work for you.

Five Bottles Worth Knowing About Right Now

There’s always something interesting finding its way onto the shelves at Claret. The

Sometimes it’s a producer we’ve been drinking for years. Sometimes it’s a bottle that’s been quietly sitting in a cellar, waiting for its moment. And sometimes it’s simply something we tasted and thought: Yep. The Claret Family need to know about this.

Zara Wilkens | yesterday

Geelong Wine Producers: A Claret Guide

We'd love to say we stock everything Geelong has to offer. We absolutely do not. There are simply too many good wines, too many small producers and not enough shelf space. Rather than attempt to create a definitive list of the best Geelong wineries, we've put together a Claret edit of some of the local producers currently on our shelves, in our fridges or on our bar list. These are wines we like, drink, pour and come back to. Some are established names that have helped put Geelong on the map; others are newer producers we're excited to watch. The common thread is that they tell us something interesting about where they're from.