About

We pride ourselves on making wines that age exceptionally well in bottle, especially our estate grown Heathcote Shiraz.

In 1992 Hanging Rock Winery planted the ‘Athol’s Paddock’ Vineyard to produce their highly acclaimed Heathcote Shiraz. The goal of the Hanging Rock Winery has always been to select premium grapes from areas of Victoria best suited to the particular variety and as a result we have a wide range of wines to suit most styles and tastes. Our Cellar Door is open daily 10am - 5pm except Good Friday and Christmas Day.



30 Years of Hanging Rock Heathcote Shiraz
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Back in the early 1980’s, John and Ann Ellis, both in their mid-30’s and with two small children, decided to take a giant leap of faith and establish their own winery – Hanging Rock Winery in the Macedon Ranges.

As Chief Winemaker at Tisdall Winery at the time, John consequently spent many hours on the road between Echuca and the Macedon Ranges, an area now known as the Heathcote Wine Region. With plenty of time to survey the landscape during those trips, John liked what he saw! Each year as the paddocks were ploughed, he could see the rusty red, clay loam soil, which we now know to be Cambrian soil – some of the oldest soil in the world.

There were very few winemakers in the region at the time - Ron Laughton at Jasper Hill being one of the few. John contacted him to get his views on growing grapes in the region and Ron confirmed his suspicions – the conditions were near perfect! Little rainfall, deep clay loam ancient soil with great water retention properties, warm but dry air creating an environment with very little disease. This combination was too good to be true – John was hooked!

John and Ann started their new venture by leasing a small vineyard in the region. They released their first wine from this vineyard in 1987 and it was an instant success. The wine won a swag of awards for them. It was even compared to Penfold’s Grange Hermitage by the industry …. the legend was born!

Unfortunately, this vineyard was not long for this world. Deforestation meant that salinity levels eventually rendered the vineyard unviable so the time had come to take the next big leap and plant their own vineyard. Enter Athol Guy. Athol, of Seekers fame and a close family friend, had recently returned from the Seekers second “last world tour”. He was looking for a project and had approached John to help him plant and manage a vineyard in Heathcote. This vineyard, which John and Ann later bought from Athol, came to be known as “Athol’s Paddock”. The first vintage from Athol’s Paddock was in 1997 and won the trophy for the Best Shiraz at the Victorian Wine Show – not bad for its first showing!

These days John and Ann’s son Robert is the Chief Winemaker at Hanging Rock. Having literally grown up in the winery, Rob has a deep understanding of the Heathcote vineyard and the impact of the variance of the seasons over the years. Rob is passionate about the possibilities of the vineyard and is constantly pushing the boundaries. Along with his accomplished team he has been working towards sustainable, dry land grape growing practices and is testing out small batch, new techniques in the winery, such as whole bunch, whole berry and natural fermentation.

Since the early 1980’s it has been wonderful and rewarding to see the growth of the region. Over this time we have seen the area planted under vine go from tens of acres to tens of thousands of acres. We can now all share the rewards of a thriving and supportive community with a good mix of smaller, artisan winemakers and larger producers, all combining to help make the Heathcote Wine Region a seriously successful one.



Cellar Door
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A visit to Hanging Rock Winery in the Macedon Ranges, an easy 1 hour drive from Melbourne, is a must on any foodie’s bucket list. Set in a breathtakingly beautiful location, Hanging Rock Winery is one of the most award-winning wineries in Australia, achieving numerous Red 5 Star awards from notable wine critic, James Halliday.

A visit to the Hanging Rock Winery Cellar Door, is an authentic experience. The friendly, passionate and knowledgeable staff are well versed in all aspects of the range on offer. All varieties and price points are covered, from table wines through to the world-class Macedon NV Brut LD and Heathcote Shiraz Reserve. With something to suit most palates, few visitors leave empty handed. And there’s no need to dip into the wallet to enjoy a tasting. Join the wine club while you’re there and you’ll be privy to invitation only events and hands-on educational experiences.



Hanging Rock Beef
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Cellar Door visitors can take home various cuts of beef, all from two year old grass-fed animals and sold with the same information you would expect to see on a wine label, including age, breed, tasting notes and of course, suggested wine matches. Cured meats such as pastrami, pastirma and bresaola and, occasionally, pies are also available.



Food Available
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Choose from a selection of local produce from our friends at Piper St Food Company, Azzurri Cheese, Beth Shan Artisanal Preserves and Woodend Ice Cream Co (seasonally) as well as our own Hanging Rock cured meats to build yourself a picnic to enjoy with a glass or two while you're with us. Start with our $19 platter and add on as many things as you like from our menu HERE.

Picnic tables available to enjoy the view of Hanging Rock and Mount Macedon or bring a picnic blanket to spread out on our spacious lawn. In the cooler months we'll have the heaters on in our enclosed marquee area. Food available every day.

We're also dog-friendly and look forward to welcoming your dog on a lead.

September 22, 2021
Hanging Rock Winery Heathcote Shiraz
Hanging Rock Winery Heathcote Shiraz

Heathcote Wine Region, in Central Victoria, has grown a reputation as a great place to grow Shiraz. The region features a deep strip of rare, ancient, red Cambrian soil with excellent moisture retention characteristics.

Video

Hanging Rock Winery

Hours

Open Now
Sunday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location

88 Jim Road, Newham, Victoria 3422
Get directions

September 22, 2021
Hanging Rock Winery Heathcote Shiraz
Hanging Rock Winery Heathcote Shiraz

Heathcote Wine Region, in Central Victoria, has grown a reputation as a great place to grow Shiraz. The region features a deep strip of rare, ancient, red Cambrian soil with excellent moisture retention characteristics.