A day spent driving between Geelong cellar doors is a very good day.
There are vineyards, long lunches, rolling hills, coastal views and the deeply satisfying feeling that comes from buying wine approximately twelve metres from where it was made.
But sometimes you want to explore Geelong wine without organising an itinerary, appointing a designated driver or committing an entire Saturday to the cause.
Good news. You can start much closer to home.
Whether you order a local wine by the glass, build a few-bottle tasting from the shop or simply choose one producer you haven't tried before, there are plenty of ways to get to know the region without embarking on a full cellar door tour.
First Cellar Doors Are Still Brilliant
Let us be clear. This is not an argument against visiting wineries.
Cellar doors offer something a bottle shop or wine bar cannot completely recreate. You can stand among the vines, meet the people involved, see how one site differs from another and work your way through several wines from the same producer. If you have the time, go. Wine Geelong maintains a useful directory of wineries across the region, and Visit Geelong and The Bellarine has plenty of ideas for putting together a day out.
This guide is for the other days. The Friday evening when you want to try something local. The dinner where three Geelong bottles sound more appealing than three hours in the car. The afternoon when curiosity strikes but your organisational skills do not.
One Region Three Different Moods
Geelong is made up of three recognised wine subregions: the Moorabool Valley, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast.
Each has its own combination of climate, elevation, soil and proximity to water. That means Geelong wine is not one single style or flavour.
The Bellarine Peninsula brings a strong maritime influence, making it a natural place to look for fresh Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling wine and aromatic whites.
The Moorabool Valley sits further inland, with drier conditions and a mixture of volcanic, clay and sandy sites. It is home to some of the region's most recognised Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and spicy, savoury Shiraz.
The Surf Coast is cool, coastal and exposed. Production is smaller, but the wines can carry wonderful freshness, perfume and energy.
If you would like the longer version, our Geelong Wine Guide takes you through each subregion without requiring a geology degree.
Start With the Three Geelong Classics
If you want to understand the region without attempting everything at once, begin with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.
Chardonnay
Geelong Chardonnay can move from bright and citrus-driven to rich, layered and textural. The best examples hold freshness and generosity in the same glass.
A leaner style can be brilliant with seafood, oysters or lighter dishes, while something with more texture is very happy alongside roast chicken, richer fish, cheese or the noble hot chip. Or drink whichever one you prefer with whatever happens to be for dinner. We are not the pairing police.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is one of the region's great strengths.
Depending on the producer and site, you might find perfume, red cherry, darker fruit, spice, earth and fine tannin. Some bottles are delicate and immediately charming. Others have the structure and staying power to develop beautifully.
Shiraz
Geelong Shiraz often feels different from the larger, warmer expressions associated with other Australian regions.
Look for dark cherry, pepper, spice and savoury detail. The wines can have plenty of depth without becoming heavy, making them particularly good at the table.
These three grapes are a starting point, not the entire story. Geelong also produces excellent Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling wine, Cabernet Franc, Viognier and plenty of less predictable things.
A Quick Note on Food Pairing
Pairing food and wine can be useful, interesting and genuinely delicious. Sometimes the wine complements the flavours on the plate. Sometimes it creates a contrast that makes both feel more exciting. But it does not always need to be a matching exercise.
We are big advocates for drinking what you enjoy. The food can be delicious. The wine can be delicious. The company can be excellent. They do not need to have been carefully selected for one another to earn their place at the same table.
Burger night in our house regularly consists of burgers and bubbles. Is that the pairing you would find in an old wine textbook? Maybe not. Is it delicious? Absolutely.
Use food-pairing suggestions when they are helpful, ignore them when they are not, and never let the search for a perfect match get in the way of opening the bottle you actually feel like drinking.
Build Your Own Geelong Wine Tasting
You do not need matching glassware, tasting sheets or a stern person holding a clipboard.
Choose three bottles with one clear difference between them.
Three varieties from the same producer
The same variety from three producers
One bottle from each Geelong subregion
An everyday bottle, something more serious and one complete wildcard
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz as a regional introduction
Taste the wines side by side if you can. Notice which one disappears fastest. This remains one of wine's more reliable assessment methods. If three full bottles feel ambitious, invite some friends. Research is important.
Let the Wine Bar Do Some of the Work
The list at Claret changes every week, with a mix of Australian, Geelong and European wines across white, red, rose and sparkling.
From time to time, we pour Geelong wines by the glass. This gives you an easy way to try a producer or variety before committing to a bottle. Ask us what is currently open, tell us what you normally enjoy and we will point you in the right direction.
There will not always be a local wine on the list. The weekly changes are part of the fun, and we would rather be honest about that than pretend the same bottle is permanently waiting behind the bar.
If there is nothing local open by the glass, the wine shop is next door.
Take the Tasting Home
Our shelves include wines from established Geelong names and smaller producers we are excited to follow.
Depending on availability, you may find bottles from By Farr, Bannockburn, Mulline, Circulus, Longboard and Oakdene, spanning Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling wine, Shiraz, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and more.
The range moves as new releases arrive and wines sell through. If you are looking for a particular producer, contact us first. If you are simply looking for 'something local and very good', that is an excellent brief.
For more about the labels you might find on our shelves, read our guide to Geelong wine producers.
Take the Tasting Home
No. But you should still take it eventually.
Visiting cellar doors is one of the best ways to understand the scale and variety of the Geelong wine region. On the days when that is not practical, start with one glass, one bottle or a small lineup at home.
Pay attention to the producer, variety and subregion. Work out what you enjoy. Then take one step sideways with the next bottle. No itinerary required. No tasting examination at the end. Just a very good wine region, right on our doorstep.
Visit our wine bar in Newtown to see what is currently pouring, or drop into the Claret wine shop and ask us to build you a Geelong tasting lineup.
Good times call for Claret xo
