High Country Food & Drinks

High Country food and drink experiences in Victoria's north-east cover wine and food matching in the King Valley, brunch in Milawa and fortified wine in Rutherglen. They are hosted at the winery itself, and they work as a half-day stop on a wider High Country trip from Melbourne, about a 3-hour drive away.

Wine and food matching in the King Valley

The King Valley's wine story has an Italian accent. Pizzini Wines is a family-owned winery with Italian heritage and is known for its Italian wine varietals, which is why the experiences here lean on food. At the shorter end, a Pizzini food and wine matching tasting starts in the original tobacco kiln that is now a bright sampling space. Guests taste at least five wines against a handful of gourmet food matches and learn how Prosecco behaves next to different flavours. It is a 45-minute session for a small group.

For more depth, the Pizzini Winery Guided Wine Tasting Tour is a 2.5-hour session. A host walks guests through current and back vintage wines, explaining how the site and the makers influence the wine, and the session ends with a glass of wine and an Italian-style grazing platter.

Brunch with Prosecco in Milawa

A morning option sits at Brown Brothers in Milawa, where a winemaking family has been at work for four generations. The Brown Brothers Prosecco Brunch is a 2-hour tasting through the Prosecco range in a private lounge, with tea and coffee on arrival and a table of freshly baked pastries, sweets, local cheeses, terrines and seasonal fruit.

Brunch bookings in the region are collected on the High Country brunch experiences page. A brunch starts early in the morning, so it suits a start before you move on to a cellar door or a drive towards the mountains.

Fortified wine and winemaking in Rutherglen

Rutherglen sits near the Murray River and is known for fortified wine, a tradition that goes back to the gold rush of the 1850s. The Stanton & Killeen Fortified Wine Blending Workshop is a hands-on example. The 4-hour workshop is guided by the winemaking team, and guests tour the heritage estate and taste a range of fortified wines before blending a batch of their own.

The day includes a gourmet lunch platter of local produce and a private induction on caring for a barrel, and it ends with a handcrafted 10L barrel of the blend to take home. Enclosed shoes are required.

Planning High Country food and drink experiences

Wine experiences in the High Country begin at the winery, with no transfers from Melbourne, so decide who is driving before the first tasting. The King Valley, Milawa and Rutherglen are separate districts, and a half-day experience in each is easier to fit around a night's stay than three in a single day.

Because alcohol is served, guests need to be over 18. Tell the winery about any dietary requirements at the time of booking, particularly for the experiences that include food. If you would rather have a guide shape the day, the High Country tours page covers guided winery visits.

Frequently asked questions

What food and drink experiences can you book in Victoria's High Country?

Food and drink experiences in Victoria's High Country include wine and food matching sessions in the King Valley, a Prosecco brunch in Milawa, and a fortified wine blending workshop in Rutherglen. They are hosted at the winery.

Is food included in High Country wine tastings?

It depends on the experience. The Pizzini Winery Guided Wine Tasting Tour finishes with a glass of wine and an Italian-style grazing platter, the Brown Brothers Prosecco Brunch includes pastries, cheeses and terrines, and the Stanton & Killeen workshop includes a gourmet lunch platter.

Can you take something home from a High Country wine workshop?

Yes. The Stanton & Killeen Fortified Wine Blending Workshop in Rutherglen sends guests home with a handcrafted 10L barrel of their own blend, plus a barrel care guide and a handmade dipstick.

How long do High Country food and wine experiences last?

High Country experiences range from a 45-minute food and wine matching tasting at Pizzini Wines to a 4-hour fortified wine workshop at Stanton & Killeen. The Brown Brothers Prosecco Brunch in Milawa is a 2-hour session.

Do High Country wineries cater for dietary requirements?

Pizzini Wines asks guests to advise any dietary requirements when they book its food and wine tastings. Check with the winery at booking for any experience that includes food.

Pick a district, then book a tasting, brunch or workshop from the High Country food and drink experiences in the King Valley, Milawa or Rutherglen.