Best Wine Bars in Melbourne: Wine Capital of Australia

Melbourne is Australia's undisputed wine capital — a city where serious wine culture permeates everything from CBD wine bars to inner-suburban neighbourhood spots. Embla on William Street is arguably Australia's greatest wine bar: 180+ bins by the glass, rotating constantly, spanning organic, biodynamic, and conventional producers from around the world. Heartattack and Vine in the CBD is a tiny, standing-room-only natural wine bar with passionate staff and a regularly changing list. Bar Lourinha does Melbourne's best Iberian wine and food pairing in a warm laneway setting. Gimlet at Cavendish House takes a more classical approach with a cellar spanning French, Italian, and Australian classics. For the serious collector, Prince Wine Store in South Yarra bridges retail and bar, with vertical tastings and premium back-vintages available by the glass. Melbourne's wine scene benefits from proximity to Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, and Macedon Ranges — expect a deep roster of Victorian producers across every genre from cool-climate Pinot to funky pétillant naturel.