Rutherglen in the City Melbourne
Saturday October 18th
Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford.
A Bold Return to the City!
After a short break in 2024, Rutherglen in the City is back in Melbourne for 2025, better than ever! Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 18th, as we bring the rich heritage, bold flavours, and exciting new varieties of North-East Victoria’s Rutherglen Wine Region to a striking new venue: The Abbotsford Convent.
This year’s event offers a more intimate, elevated wine experience that invites wine lovers - and the wine curious - to sip, swirl, and savour at their own pace. Join 16 of Rutherglen’s top wineries for a day of tasting and discovery. Expect the classics like Durif and world-renowned Muscat, plus a fresh selection of contemporary varieties such as Alvarinho, Fiano, Grenache, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo.
New for 2025 is our “Wine Bar, Wine Chats” experience, where relaxed, pop-up style conversations with winemakers and experts will explore the stories behind the wines, with topics ranging from sustainable viticulture to food pairings and winemaking innovation. It's fun, informative, and at a small cost of $10.
Early bird tickets are $50 and include a premium take-home tasting glass and unlimited tastings across all winery pop-ups, a wine bottle tote bag and a wine showcase map by varietal.
With live music, gourmet food options, and Rutherglen wines available by the glass and bottle to enjoy on-site or take home, Rutherglen in the City Melbourne 2025 is a wine escape not to be missed
Tickets
Entry tickets this year costs $50 with the event running 11:30am - 6:00pm with two bookable sessions.
Session 1: 11:30am - 2:30pm
Session 2: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Enjoy live music, a range of food options for purchase, and discover boutique and rare wines you can't access anywhere else.
Wine available for purchase by the glass, the bottle or to take home.
Wine Bar, Wine Chat Series
Within the Convent, book a spot in a relaxed, pop-up style conversation and tasting with winemakers and experts. We will explore the stories behind the wines and topics ranging from sustainable viticulture to food pairings and winemaking innovation. It's fun, informative, and only a small cost of $10.
Morning Sessions
11:45am
Dinah Wines Presents Aged and ageing Wines.
Join Richard Buller in a session of comparative tastings between new vintage wines and their aged vintages. Hear the importance of blending and making wine in a way that makes the perfect cellaring wine for years to come.
12:45pm
Pfeiffer Wines Presents Seriously Pink
Hear the story behind Pfeiffer’s Seriously Pink with Robyn Pfeiffer. Taste the Seriously Pink neat and then let Robyn show you how to turn this seriously great wine into a cocktail and a ‘long’ drink, maybe even have a go yourself.
1:45pm
Jones Winery & Vineyard Presents, Jones Wine & Climate Change
Join 6th Generation winemaker Ben Jones, as he links the potential impacts of climate change on Jones viticulture and winemaking practices, to innovative wines already paving the way. Think Fiano, Petit Sec (Muscat Sec) and Malbec.
Afternoon Sessions
3:15pm
Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Presents: Muscat Blending
Step into the world of one of Rutherglen’s most iconic wine styles with Stephen Chambers, 6th Generation Winemaker of Chambers Rosewood Vineyards. In this hands-on session, you’ll taste and explore Muscat at different stages of maturity - from youthful, fresh examples to lusciously aged treasures drawn from the family’s historic cellar.
Then, channel your inner winemaker as Stephen guides you through blending your very own Muscat. Adjust sweetness, balance, and complexity to create a drop that’s uniquely yours. Discover just how much skill (and a little bit of magic) goes into crafting this world-renowned fortified wine.
4:15pm
Stanton & Killeen Wines Presents Meet the Iberians
Join Wendy Killeen for a whirlwind 30-minute journey to Portugal. In this guided tasting, you’ll explore the vibrant world of Iberian varietals that have flourished in Rutherglen’s warm climate. From the crisp elegance of Arinto to the bold allure of Tempranillo, discover the flavours, stories, and winemaking traditions that make these wines so distinctive.
Wendy will share the history behind Stanton & Killeen’s love affair with Portuguese grapes, the journey from vineyard to glass, and why these varietals are a perfect match for Rutherglen terroir.
In Festival Wine Showcase Experience
Keen to explore new, interesting, and emerging varieties and styles at your own leisure? Try the in-festival Wine Show Case Experience and take a winery tour tailored to your every need.
Let your senses loose as you explore all of the varietals that flourish in the region – from heavenly sparkling whites and reds to crowd-favourite rosé and Rutherglen’s famous fortifieds.
Purchasing wine at Rutherglen in the City
Purchasing your favourite wines from our wineries is made easy at Rutherglen in the City. All our wineries will be retailing wines for you to take home.
Participating Wineries
The following wineries will be at Rutherglen in the City Melbourne in 2025:
All Saints Estate
Andrew Buller Wines
Anderson Winery
Chambers Rosewood Vineyards
Cofield Wines
De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate
Dinah Wines
John Gehrig Wines
Jones Winery & Vineyard
Morris of Rutherglen
Olive Hills Estate
Pfeiffer Wines
Scion Wine
St Leonards Vineyard
Stanton & Killeen Wines
Warrabilla Wines
