Media Release & Info
Overview
Just one hour from Melbourne, the Nillumbik Hills open their cellar doors this weekend - ten small family wineries, each with its own story, its own landscape, and its own heartbeat. This is the quieter side of the Yarra Valley: no crowds, no rush, just real people making real wine. Whether it’s second‑generation growers, ex‑corporates chasing the dream, or a retired couple crafting tiny batches in a barn, every cellar door offers something personal, warm, and wonderfully human. Come for an afternoon and feel like you’ve escaped for a weekend.
OPEN CELLARS
Open Cellars is a relaxed, self‑guided weekend across the Nillumbik Hills - the western and quieter, more intimate side of the Yarra Valley. Just an hour from Melbourne, ten small family wineries open their doors and invite visitors to meet the makers, taste their wines, and enjoy the landscapes that make this region so special.
This is not a big, commercial wine festival.
It’s personal.
It’s local.
It’s the people behind the bottles - growers, makers, second‑generation families, newcomers, ex-corporates, hobbyists and characters who make this pocket of the valley feel like home.
Why the Nillumbik Hills?
Beautiful, peaceful landscapes without the heavy traffic of the wider Yarra Valley
Cellar doors only minutes apart (3 -15 minutes)
Genuine conversations with the people who grow and make the wine
A mix of long‑established vineyards and exciting new owners
A strong sense of community - wine here isn’t an industry, it’s a neighbourhood
Visitors can come out for an afternoon and feel like they’ve been away for a weekend… or stay with some BnB options plus excellent apartments 20 minutes away.
The Ten Wineries of Open Cellars
Below is a quick snapshot of each participating winery. Full profiles available on request.
Butterman’s Track Wines — St Andrews
A shy father‑and‑son team with 30 years of history, a gravity‑fed winery setup, and a warehouse‑style tasting room. Highly respected, especially for their Sangiovese. (Engineer → winemaker; second‑generation family)
Yarrambat Estate — Yarrambat
Unavailable for media. A vineyard‑only experience inside the owner’s home. Award‑winning wines made by John Ellis (Hanging Rock). Stunning decks and views across the ranges. (Accountant → vineyard owner)
Watsons Creek Wines — Kangaroo Ground
A retired couple making tiny‑batch wines in a gorgeous American‑style barn. Rustic gardens, big vege garden, orchids, and a peaceful hillside setting. (Retired couple → micro‑winemakers)
Shaws Road Winery — Arthurs Creek
A multi‑generation Apted family vineyard with a full restaurant, sweeping views, and deep roots in the region’s farming history. (Generational farmers → winemakers)
Wedgetail Estate — Cottles Bridge
New owners, new energy, and a transformed cellar door. Ex‑corporates turned passionate vineyard owners and winemaker releasing four new wines this weekend. (Corporate careers → vineyard life)
East Hill Estate — Kangaroo Ground
The “cool kids” of the region — warm hosts, beautiful events, music, and a stylish cellar door. Wines made by Joel Trist (Butterman’s Track). (Finance + fashion → vineyard owners)
Nillumbik Estate — Smiths Gully
Family‑run with a small restaurant, beautiful views, and a loyal following. Long‑time contributors to Open Cellars. (Family business → hospitality + wine)
Hildebrand Organic Wines — Cottles Bridge
Certified organic, quiet achievers, and part of the region’s growing sustainable wine movement. (Organic farmers → winemakers)
Kings of Kangaroo Ground — Kangaroo Ground
Award‑winning wines made behind the local post office. Quirky, fun, full of stories, and absolutely worth a visit. (IT executive + postmaster → winemakers)
Panton Hill Winery — Panton Hill
A breathtaking stone‑built winery that feels like the south of France. Barrel rooms, fireplaces, history, and exceptional wine. (Geologist → master builder + winemaker)
Event Details
Nillumbik Hills Open Cellars
Located in the western Yarra Valley in the Hurstbridge Region.
One hour out from the CBD - close to Eltham, Hurstbridge
This Weekend — Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October
11am - 5pm both days
Ten cellar doors across the Western Yarra Valley
Self‑guided, relaxed, family‑friendly
Most wineries offer tastings; some offer food, music, and special releases.
For Journalists & Creators
If you’d like interviews, behind‑the‑scenes access, or introductions to any of the winemakers, please reach out. Many of them have incredible backstories — from second‑generation growers to ex‑corporates who changed their lives to chase wine.
Every cellar door has its own personality, its own story, and its own heartbeat. Even if you can’t make it this weekend, I’d love to connect with you for future coverage - most of these wineries are open throughout the year, and they’re full of stories worth telling.
Media Contact
Suzy Jaeger
0417 349 799
www.opencellars.com.au
