By Appointment Only... fortune favours the brave
Sara Schwarz
Macedon Ranges Wine - Limited Edition postcards [©Macedon Ranges Vigneron's Association]
‘By Appointment Only’. These are daunting words for the uninitiated, reeking of royal privilege and exclusivity of the past. Embrace them however, don’t fear them; fortune favours the brave.
In my line of work I've visit numerous wineries big and small and have enjoyed a diverse range of experiences along the way. Possibly my most surprising and pleasant cellar door experience in recent years was at a small ‘by appointment only’ winery in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.
Upon our phone enquiry, the owner, a busy man with his finger in many a pie, was delighted to hear from us and immediately set aside half an hour that afternoon to take us through his wines. Two hours and numerous tastings later we emerged blinking into the sunlight from his dusty makeshift cellar door, clutching our parting gift - a perfectly cellared 15 year old bottle of his pinot noir and an invitation to lend a hand during the harvest next vintage.
Over the course of the afternoon our host had generously guided us through the history of his property and the surrounding region, an exquisite bottle of his sparkling, some wonderful eight, nine and ten year old chardonnays, along with numerous dusty unlabelled pinot noirs, shiraz and cabernets. Quite an afternoon.
While we can’t guarantee all ‘by appointment’ experiences will be so amply rewarded, if you are genuinely interested in a winery, region or specific variety, then chances are the winery would be delighted to hear from you and to host your visit.
It’s not you…
Cellar doors operate ‘by appointment only’ for a number of reasons:
- Firstly, vineyards and wineries are busy places. In between spraying, pruning and harvesting, the demands of the winery and the taxman, there simply isn’t the time to run a cellar door, even on weekends.
- Secondly, while offering liquid riches, the wine industry isn’t renown for turning paupers to princes(ses). Often your winemaker is also a teacher, lawyer, labourer or farmer who dedicates their precious weekend and evening hours to the fruits of the vine.
- Running on a tight budget means extra staff is a luxury reserved for special events. Day to day, owner/operators would need to run their own cellar doors at the expense of not completing other tasks.
- Finally, a winery who produces only minute amounts of wine each year would easily use up their entire stock in cellar door tastings, resulting in some very happy travellers however with no profit to re-invest for further wine production.
All these negatives however are actually positive for us. Those who take the initiative to make a call are generally guaranteed a warm welcome and the winemaker’s undivided attention with the opportunity to experience some little known hand-crafted wines.
So be brave this year. You never know, you may just find yourself with some wonderful new friends, working side-by-side in their vineyard next vintage.
Our Recommendations
To see our recommendations, ratings and reviews you must be a logged-in subscriber.
To subscribe please enter your email address in the "Subscribe Now - it's Free" box on the right and click the "Join" button, or fill in this form >
The Macedon Ranges sit just on Melbourne's door step, less than an hour from the city. The region's vineyards are located along either side of the Great Dividing ... wine reflecting the climate and topography of this area »
Tutor your nose to detect the subtle aromas in wine and learn to appreciate and enjoy its complexities. VisitVineyards.com subscribers purchasing Le Nez du Vin aroma sets can save up to $110 and get two Essential Wine Tasting Guides for the price of one. Read about the 
Thinking celebration? Then surely thinking Champagne, the wine that's always part of life's most important occasions. And sometimes just for the pure bubbly, enjoyment. Dine and sip with royalty, celebrity at history-making moments with your copy of Champagne and Chandeliers by Bernadette O'Shea. VisitVineyards.com subscribers, you receive a 15 per cent discount on purchase 
Le Figaro calls her "the undisputed mistress of the kingdom of wine". Receive an immediate introductory 
Like to discover more about this state's lifestyle, wine, food and more? Then ask us now for your free copy of Tasmania 40 Degrees South the magazine that showcases the best of Australia's island state. 
In our No 1 Wine Book of 2010, Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein matches distinctive wines with recipes from his favourite chefs in this book focussing on new and emerging grape varietals. VisitVineyards.com subscribers and Members buying this book will receive a 
Enhance your experience with a 
This beautiful book showcases the island state's renowned fresh food though delicious recipes set alongside images of the very environment that plays a crucial part in its production. Whether you're a Tasmanian at home or abroad this book will have your mouth proudly watering. If you've visited or plan to visit the state, then it's a great souvenir or advance taste of what's to come. 