Victoria is home to many dedicated and passionate winemakers who produce some of Australia’s most compelling Pinot Noir. Thanks to its diverse range of cool-climate terroirs, Victoria is unique in the extraordinary number of different regions where premium examples of the varietal can be found. This article explores the key Victorian regions that produce Pinot Noir, from the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula - where Pinot Noir is the most planted variety - to Gippsland, Geelong, Macedon Ranges and Henty - where Pinot Noir also has a sizable presence. Apologies to Beechworth, Phillip Island, Pyrenees and Upper Goulburn Valley, where a small number of wineries also produce outstanding Pinot Noir.
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is arguably Victoria’s most well-known Pinot Noir region. Its varied topography, volcanic and sandy loam soils, and mix of elevations make it ideal for growing this temperamental grape. The ocean, 70km away, has a lesser influence here. The result is often light to medium-bodied Pinot Noir with notes of cherry, strawberry and subtle earthy spice. These wines are typically elegant, with soft tannins and bright natural acidity.
Producers such as Giant Steps, Coldstream Hills, Hoddles Creek and Mount Mary have helped establish the Yarra Valley's reputation for high-quality Pinot Noir, offering both drink-now appeal and cellaring potential.
Elevation is a key factor in the style of Pinot Noir produced in the Valley, as the vineyard can be located in the Lower Yarra (or valley floor) or the Upper Yarra. The Upper Yarra has higher elevation, cooler daytime temperatures and later ripening, resulting in Pinots of more perfume and savouriness, less fruit weight, and finer tannins. Giant Steps produces a range of single-vineyard Pinot Noirs that beautifully highlight the role altitude plays.
Mornington Peninsula
This maritime-influenced region just south of Melbourne is a Pinot Noir powerhouse. The strong coastal breezes and cool temperatures allow for a long ripening season, preserving acidity while encouraging complexity. No vineyard is further than seven kilometres from the sea, and the moderation provided by the sea on both sides of the peninsula lends suppleness to the wines.
Mornington Pinots are often vibrant, perfumed, and structured - offering red berry fruit, spice, and silky tannins. The wines here tend to be a little more robust than those from the Yarra Valley, often with greater weight. Notable producers include Dexter, Kooyong Estate, Yabby Lake and Handpicked Wines.
Gippsland
Gippsland, especially around Leongatha where the famed Bass Phillip vineyard is located, produces some of the country’s most expressive Pinot Noirs. The region is cool, coastal and humid, with a long growing season. The best examples are medium-bodied, with depth and elegance—offering red fruit purity alongside earthiness, minerality and delicate spice. These wines are often built for ageing and are highly sought-after by Pinot enthusiasts.
Geelong
Located west of Melbourne and Mornington, Geelong is a small but significant region for Pinot Noir. Maritime breezes and a mix of basalt and clay-loam soils help produce wines with savoury complexity and a leaner, more mineral-driven style. Geelong Pinots are often medium-bodied, with plum and strawberry fruit, gentle tannins, and a distinctive sense of place. Shadowfax and By Farr are two standout producers from this region.
Macedon Ranges
This is one of Victoria’s coolest wine regions, with vineyards sitting between 500 and 700 metres above sea level. The altitude results in slow ripening and high natural acidity—perfect conditions for making refined, elegant Pinot Noir. Macedon Ranges Pinots are typically light to medium-bodied, with fresh red fruit, floral lift, and layers of spice and earth. Wines from this region—such as those from Curly Flat—are known for their finesse and age-worthiness.
Henty
Tucked into Victoria’s far south-west corner, Henty is one of the coolest and most maritime regions in the state. Pinot Noir from Henty tends to be lighter in body, with crisp acidity, red berry fruit, and a subtle herbal or mineral edge. While better known for Riesling and Chardonnay, Pinot from this region has its own quiet charm.
Why Victoria Stands Out for Pinot Noir
Victoria’s strength lies in its diversity. From maritime to alpine and volcanic to coastal, each region offers a unique lens through which to view the Pinot Noir grape. These differences are amplified by thoughtful, often minimal-intervention winemaking that favours whole-bunch ferments, natural acidity, and site expression.
Importantly, Victoria is home to many of Australia’s most committed Pinot specialists. Whether you prefer the delicate aromatics of Macedon or the deeper, more concentrated styles of Gippsland or Mornington, the state has something to offer all Pinot lovers.
Explore Victorian Pinot Noirs at Canterbury Wines
At Canterbury Wines, we’re proud to showcase a wide selection of Pinot Noir from across Victoria’s leading regions. Whether you're seeking finesse, flavour, or age-worthy structure, our collection includes bottles that highlight the regional diversity and exceptional quality Victorian Pinot has to offer.
Browse our Victorian Pinot Noir Collection
Regional Wine Map of Victoria
