Bottles & Barrels

Callum Macpherson and Matt Baird take pride in their hometown, but they’re even prouder of the wine it produces. With that in mind they opened their Geelong wine store, Bottles & Barrels, in 2015.

Since then they’ve been steadily building relationships with local wineries, favouring small, family-owned vineyards with a minimal-intervention philosophy. Bottles from Lethbridge Wines feature alongside those from Bannockburn Vineyards, Oakdene and Leura Park Estate Winery. Pinot noir is one of the most popular varietals – a nod to Geelong’s history as a stellar pinot producer.

The shop looks nothing like your local bottle-o. The Nomad Styling-designed space is warm and open, featuring exposed brick, leather couches and wood touches. The shop doesn’t function as a wine bar, but it does have a license to host regular free tasting nights. The duo works hard to ensure the wines stay current, too; lovers of the Hot Chicken Project’s selection will always be able to find the same bottles at the store.

In addition to the wine, Bottles & Barrels also sells beers from La Sirené, Hawkers, Stone & Wood, Two Birds, Pirate Life and other Australian breweries.