Best Wine Shops in Melbourne
What is it about wine that's so intimidating? Most of us have no trouble picking out clothes or food, but we freeze up when faced with a choice between different varietals, vintages, styles, wineries and regions. Okay, we get it. There's a lot to learn. But that's also part of the appeal. In the big world of wine, there's always something new to explore, no matter how experienced you are. And it's only as snobby or pretentious as you make it.
These shops are the place to start your journey, or fulfil your existing passion. All are staffed by keen drinkers ready to share their knowledge, and many let you sample the goods right there. Leave your discomfort at the door and ask lots of questions. Chances are, you'll go home with the right bottle(s) for you.
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Prince Wine Store
A strong contender for best wine store in Australia.
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Cloudwine Cellars
Finds and stocks small producers right before they take off.
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European Wine Store
Cloudwine's companion store is all about lesser-known European producers.
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Blackhearts & Sparrows
Though these stores are now ubiquitous in the inner city, the quality of the wine selection – young, reasonably priced and often natural – hasn't slipped a bit.
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Public Wine Shop
Former sommelier Campbell Burton is behind this smart store, where 200 bottles of organic, sulphur-free wine rest in temperature controlled cabinets.
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The Valley Cellar Door
A sommelier, 230 wines and a licence to drink-in or take away. Magic.
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Mr West
Local skin-contact wine, Spanish ciders, obscure spirits and easy-drinking beers are all on the menu at this friendly neighbourood bottle shop and bar in Nicholson Street Mall.
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Nicks Wine Merchants
Stocks more than 20 vintages of Penfolds Grange, plus 2000 other wines.
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The Alps
Where terroir and transparent winemaking matter more than anything else.
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The Moon
This neighbourhood gem is from the team behind The Alps and Toorak Cellars. More than 400 thoughtfully-curated drops make up the wine list, which you can team with sophisticated small plates.
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Toorak Cellars
Stop in for a single glass selected from the blackboard, then take a bottle home.
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Penny Young
Reps less-common varietals such as Georgian saperavi and Italian nero d'avola.
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Samuel Pepys
Step in for 400 wines from small, biodynamic and low-intervention producers.
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Cult of the Vine
One of the most focused wine selections in town.
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Barkley Johnson
It's everything – a cafe, deli, wine bar and damn good bottle-o.
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Atlas Vinifera
Twenty-four wines to drink in-house and 400 to take home.
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Bahama Gold
An incredible sound system. Absurdly good value house wines. And an unusual canteen-style window that passes drinks right onto the footpath. This is one of Melbourne’s most fun wine bars.
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Seddon Wine Store
A comfortable, lived-in wine bar with 500 bottles to take home or drink in.
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Union Wine Store
Venue number two from the knowledgeable couple behind Seddon Wine Store.
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Hudsons Road Wine and Beer
This spot in the western suburbs has roughly 200 wines and the same again of beers, plus a deli cabinet filled with cured meats, pate, and a range of cheese. All of the above are available to enjoy in the relaxed shopfront overlooking the street.
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Brunswick East Wine Store
Small but expertly curated.
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Harvest Wine & Liquor
A well-priced collection of local and international bottles.
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Milton Wine Shop
Heaps of orange and biodynamic wines and a "no snobbery" policy.
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Village Vineyard
A warm, communal bottle-o with more than 300 wines and 200 beers. Plus, tables out the front where you can sit and enjoy a glass.
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City Wine Shop
European wines to quaff on site or at home.
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Wine Republic
The name says it all. Find it in Fitzroy, Northcote and Windsor.
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Chapel Street Cellars
The only spot on this list with a vacuum-sealed Coravin system, for keeping its by-the-glass options fresh.
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A Point of Difference Liquor
These stats are impressive: 850 beers, 350 wines, 500 spirits and 40 years in the business.
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Armadale Cellars
Wines to suit all budgets and palates.
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Rathdowne Cellars
A good place to find higher-end bottles from Australia and Europe.
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Small Patch
Take home, or drink in with a plate of cheese.
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McCoppins Bottle Shops
Well-priced, crowd-pleasing wines in Abbotsford and Fitzroy.
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Vinoshis
Two winemakers are behind this cosy wine bar, which pours natural drops from Australia and Europe. Sit in the heritage-listed building and enjoy a glass with some charcuterie, or grab a bottle and some deli snacks to go.
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Pierre Stock
Pierre Stock was the sommelier and wine buyer at iconic bistro France-Soir for 10 years. This is his appointment-only wine destination, where you can snack and sip while he matches you with the perfect bottle (or case).
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Primrose & Vine
A neighbourhood wine bar serving a mix of Australian and European drops alongside small grazing plates. Go for a jamon plate, build-your-own cheeseboard, or order woodfired pizzas delivered from the nearby Il Caminetto. Enjoy wines by the glass or take your pick from more than 250 bottles next door.
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Gloria's Wine
A 70-seater neighbourhood wine bar in a former antiques-restoration shop. Bathe in the chandelier’s buttery glow in the front room, or head out back to get toasty by the fire. There’s a 180-strong wine wall, plus hummus swimming in chilli oil and charcuterie hampers to go.
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Rocket Wine
A sleek neighbourhood wine bar and bottle shop with a wall of 600 wines to go, around 30 wines by the glass and whisky flights. Enjoy a glass with a hunk of Victorian-made cheese or takeaway from a nearby restaurant.
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Cardwell Cellars
At this "mapped" bottle shop, a cartographer and a sommelier are cracking open wines you’ve never tried from under-represented regions around the world. Grab a bottle to go, or settle in with a glass and some charcuterie (or order in from a nearby restaurant).
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Good Liquor and Wine
This drink-in bottle shop pours wild ales, natural wines and sour Negronis. Come for beer-infused cocktails, Belgian lambics and plenty of snacks.
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Natural Science Wine and Liquor
The bottle shop-bar hybrid exclusively stocks Australian names focusing on both emerging and established producers. There are also four rotating beers on tap, plus classic cocktails made with local spirits.
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