Where to get your vino on in Melbourne’s south
LOOKING for a place to catch up with your mates Savvy B and Sangio Vese? From Prahran to Patterson Lakes, here are 16 of the best wine bars in Melbourne’s south.
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WINE bars are the new pubs and, these days, pretty much every suburb has its own local.
From laid-back, late-night tapas bars and mood-lit grape-juice lairs to sprawling beachfront cellars — there’s no shortage of wine-soaked watering holes in Melbourne’s southern suburbs.
16 OF THE BEST WINE BARS IN MELBOURNE’S SOUTH
317 Bay St, Port Melbourne
Harry & Frankie is a wine bar and wine shop that champions fun and deliciousness over pretentiousness. Inside, ceiling to floor shelves lined with bottles of fine wine run the length of the narrow building, and domed roof makes it feel like you’re inside a giant barrel.
181 Bank St, South Melbourne
Housed next door to Prince Wine Store, an independent wine apothecary that stocks more than 3500 bottles, Bellota Wine Bar is a wine lover’s vin-soaked haven. From the honeycomb-tiled floors to the blackboard specials, it has all the making of a classic European-inspired enoteca. And the best bit? You can buy a bottle from next door at cellar prices and enjoy it in the restaurant. Try: The Argyros Estate Vinsanto Mezzo, with its intense, syrupy sweetness and lingering notes of caramel and dried pineapple, is the ideal cheese plate accompaniment.
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64 Commercial Rd, Prahran
When Lyndon Kubis from Toorak Cellars and Milton Wine Shop is the brains behind a new Prahran local, you know it’s going to be good. Try: The Other Right Love Potion 2017 — an uncomplicated, easy drinking shiraz that is made from hand-picked, wild-fermented grapes. It is unfined, unfiltered and has no added sulfites.
1/143 Greville St, Prahran
A bar inspired by Winston Churchill’s dog, Rufus, who, rumour has it, was always the centre of attention in the Churchill household. We’ll drink to that. And also because the wine list is divine. Try: The 2014 Domaine Dominique Piron Beaujolais-Villages ‘La Chanaise’ Gamay.
1160 High St, Armadale
Wine 1160 is a charismatic wine bar nestled away in Armadale’s popular High Street retail precinct. Because after a day of shopping, a hard earned glass of vino is exactly what the doctor prescribed.
155 Burke Rd, Glen Iris
Tom Pockett Cellars specialises in small-batch wine from family owned and operated businesses. The weekly dinner menu is developed by sourcing the best local produce available. Breakfast, lunch and share plates available throughout the week and hot breakfast on the weekend. Wine in or takeaway — the choice is yours.
395 Wattletree Road, Malvern East
Sit at Riserva’s marble top bar and you can see staffers polishing glasses, shaking cocktails and swirling wines in fine stemware. The wine list goes long and deep on Italian reds and whites, bolstered by varietals from France, Germany, Austria and Spain. There’s also a good brace of beers, spirits aplenty and excellent Illy coffee. Try: Start with an aperitif then wrap your tastebuds around a glass of Castagnoli 2014 Chianti Classico from Tuscany, Italy.
15 Glen Eira Rd, Ripponlea
Restaurant and wine bar dishing up simple comfort food with a seasonal edge. It has recently undergone a facelift and has just reopened with a chic cocktail bar extension (designed by Black Milk) together with a fresh new menu and wine list (including more than a few delicious wines on tap). Try: A glass of the seductive McLaren Vale (South Australia) 2014 La Gita Nero D’Avola. It’s all Black Forest cake and rich aromas.
282 Centre Rd, Bentleigh
Your friendly, neighbourhood casa di vino, or house of wine. Which, ironically, is our favourite kind of house. Try: Cava ‘Gran Reserva’ from Los Enoloz. It’s the good stuff, we promise. And, all of the wines are available to takeaway so if you can’t finish your bottle (said no one, ever) they will re-cork it for you so you can enjoy it at home.
62-64 Ormond Rd, Elwood
A true locals bar with a wine list to match. Try: Grab yourself a salami plate to share and a bottle of Marcus Hill ‘People Madly Stomping’ Pinot Noir from the Bellarine Peninsula — light, bright, fruity and fun.
1/153 Martin St, Brighton
Wine, live music and BYO food (so long as it’s not on the Larder menu). If that’s not hospitality, we don’t know what is.
615 Balcombe Rd, Black Rock
Corner cafe and wine bar that is so close to the beach you can smell the sea salt as it sprays in off the ocean. Which is right across the road.
472A Beach Rd, Beaumaris
BEAU Kitchen and Cellar located on Beach Road, in what was the former Beaumaris Hotel and is conveniently located next door to Rack and Ruin — a boutique bottle shop. Pick from more than 200 bottles of wine at Rack to enjoy with your meal in BEAU. Talk about convenience.
114/116 Nepean Hwy, Mentone
The good folk behind Lydford & Co believe that good times and memories are made in the communities that we live in, which is why they are all about preserving community spirits. Pun intended. Their food and drink lists have been designed around seasonality and supply, with a focus on supporting local brewers, winemakers and distillers. Try: The Chateuah Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon from Nagambie Lakes and grab a 72-hour slow-cooked beef brisket sanger. Yes.
622 Main St, Mordialloc
We might get in trouble for giving up this local Mordy secret. Try: The blue cheese and whatever special the friendly sommeliers suggest to go with it. Or pick your favourite drop and BYO food to go with it.
Shop 18 Harbour Plaza, 11 Thompsons Road, Patterson Lakes
Go on a journey through Spain’s wine-soaked countryside at Puerto. With a vino list that boasts more than 120 Spanish varieties alone, matched with delicious tapas, you’ll feel like a Spanish local in no time. Try: A glass of the Nebla verdejo — a Spanish white similar in style and characteristics to pinot gris, from the Ruedo region, which is home to some of the country’s best white wines.
HAVE WE MISSED YOUR GO-TO LOCAL? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
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