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Visit Us
Built in 1866, the Cellar Door is the heart of Best’s Wines’ operation. The old red gum slab tasting room is housed in the original stables and showcases old winery equipment, maps of the area, as well as Henry Best’s original journal dating from 1866. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the original cellars, which were hand dug in the 1870’s, as well as view the original Nursery Block plantings, both of which represent a significant piece of Australian wine history. Our cellar door offers guests a truly unique experience!
All wine tasting experiences in our cellar door are seated, please book your visit HERE Wines for tasting and sale include Best’s current range of wines as well as limited-release wines available through the cellar door only. Rare and old vintages are on display and, at times, releases of museum wines are available for purchase.
New to wine tasting? This fantastic article by Katie Spain in The Age Good Food Guide offers some great tips and tricks to consider before you embark on your next tasting adventure.
Group bookings (11 or more), winery tours, bus tours and private tastings can be accommodated by prior arrangement only. For large groups (11 or more) group booking fees apply, please contact us directly on +61 3 5356 2250 or via email cellar.door@bestswines.com and be sure to check out if there are any events on while you’re in the area.
Best’s Wines Great Western is a 2.5 hour drive from Melbourne. To find our cellar door, take the Western Freeway exit from the city and continue on the M8 Western Highway through the towns of Ballarat and Ararat, continuing through the town of Great Western towards Stawell. Before passing through Great Western, look out for the Best’s Wines signs and turn right into Bests Road.
Best’s Cellar Door is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm (Winter), 11am – 5pm (Summer)
Wine Tasting Experiences
The old red gum slab tasting room is housed in the original stables. We offer a range of seated tasting experiences to suit a range of palates. Book your tasting experience now.
Underground Cellar Tour
Take a free self-guided walk in our original underground cellars. Hand dug in the late 19th Century, our cellars are still used today for maturing our premium red wines.
Events
Upcoming public events and private club member events are always a great way to connect with the Thomson family and our team. Throughout the year, we host many special events at both our cellar door and further afield.
Pick a Platter
Pick your own cheese platter from our range of local and Victorian produce. Our special Pick a Platter cheese board put the decision in your hands, spend as little or as much as you would like and takeaway the rest.
Best’s Wines included in “10 of the best Victorian cellar doors to try” in The Age Good Food Guide, March 2023.
Visiting Best’s Wines?
When you arrive in Great Western (from the south), travel through our tiny town, turn right and head along Bests Road, you’ll see our vineyards to your left, then its a left turn at the gates, along the driveway and to the cellar door.
Stay in touch
We have a monthly newsletter, The Thomson Times, to help everyone stay connected. Sign up and keep up to date on upcoming wine releases and winery events. You don’t want to miss out!