Discover Toolleen: Wineries and Wine Profiles

The wineries in Toolleen each have a distinct focus: Pook Road is a family-run boutique winery, Heathcote II’s profile is shaped by hands-on vineyard work and winemaking, and Peregrine Ridge focuses on Shiraz. There are also specific differences in visitor options: Tellurian Wines has a cellar door open on weekends; Barnadown Run recommends booking ahead for a particular red wine tasting.

Wine Profiles and Winemaking in Toolleen

Pook Road is on the eastern slopes of Mt Pleasant in Toolleen. Its featured wines include Heathcote Shiraz, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sémillon and Cabernet. The selection may change. As a family-run boutique winery, Pook Road combines a specific sense of place with several named wine varieties.

At Heathcote II, Peder and Lionel handle the grape growing and winemaking themselves. They prune the vines by hand, pick and press the grapes by hand too. They employ seasonal workers during harvest. The work described therefore ranges from tending the vines to processing the grapes; seasonal help also joins the team during harvest.

Domaine Asmara produces a small selection of quality red and white wines. Peregrine Ridge is a boutique winery specialising in handcrafted Shiraz and Sparkling Shiraz. The two profiles have different focuses: Domaine Asmara offers a small selection across both wine colours, while Peregrine Ridge centres on two Shiraz styles.

Addresses and Planning Your Visit

Heathcote II is at 290 Cornella-Toolleen Road in Toolleen, and Peregrine Ridge is at 404 Cornella-Toolleen Road. The two street numbers help distinguish the wineries on the same road.

Tellurian Wines has a cellar door at 408 Tranter Road in Toolleen. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm. Check the opening hours again before you set off.

Barnadown Run’s cellar door is usually open. For a tasting of a particular red wine offered for sale, the winery recommends booking ahead. Confirm the visiting arrangements directly if you plan to attend this tasting.

More to Discover in the Campaspe Shire

The wider destination of Campaspe Shire complements Toolleen’s wine experiences with regional history. The Lockington & District Living Heritage Complex is a local history museum and resource centre. Historical exhibits from the district include a shearing shed, blacksmith’s shop, dairy shed and historic classroom. There is also a PMG hut, a Masonic lodge, a restored tram, a pop-top caravan, locally built tractors and a steam traction engine. The collection therefore includes both historic buildings and workplaces, as well as vehicles and technology.

The Port of Echuca riverside heritage precinct is also in the wider Campaspe Shire. It includes the Discovery Centre, operated by Campaspe Shire Council, a museum, historic buildings, displays of equipment, demonstrations and rides on authentic paddle steamers. Unlike the exhibits in Lockington, the offering described here includes demonstrations and steamboat rides.

For an active getaway, Campaspe Shire offers two rail trails with different lengths and endpoints. The 19 km Waranga Rail Trail connects Rushworth with Murchison and passes Waranga Basin, bushland and farmland. The family-friendly Girgarre-Stanhope Rail Trail is 5 km long and connects Girgarre with Stanhope. The two trails can therefore be compared by their length and the towns they connect.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Accommodation Search

If you’re looking for a holiday rental, first consider whether you want to focus on Toolleen and its wineries, or include historic attractions and rail trails in the wider Campaspe Shire as well.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Nagambie, Mornington, Big Hill, Connewarre, Smythesdale, Yan Yean, Beechworth, Bittern.

Go to the wider travel guide: Victoria.