Saturday 24th October | 11am - 2pm or 3pm - 6pm | Abbotsford Convent
Rutherglen in the City is back for 2026, bringing the winemakers of one of Australia’s most iconic wine regions to Melbourne for a day of bold flavours, rich heritage and standout wines at the Abbotsford Convent.
For one day only, taste your way through more than 100 wines from Rutherglen’s leading wineries - without the three-hour drive. Meet the winemakers, uncover the stories behind each pour, revisit the classics and discover new favourites you might never find on a restaurant list or bottle-shop shelf.
From crisp whites and sparkling wines to Italian and alternative varieties, contemporary reds, iconic Rutherglen Durif and the Muscats and Topaques that made the region famous, there’s something to discover in every glass.
Set within the beautiful heritage surrounds of the Abbotsford Convent, settle in for live music, gourmet food and the chance to enjoy your favourite discoveries by the glass or bottle throughout the day.
Whether you know your Durif from your Sangiovese or simply know what you like when you taste it, Rutherglen in the City is the perfect spring day out for wine lovers and the wine curious alike.
One city. One day. A whole wine region to discover.
Your ticket
Choose from two sessions:
Morning Session : 11:00am – 2:00pm
Afternoon Session : 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Launch Tickets $50 | General Admission $55
Launch price available for the first two weeks only.
Entry tickets to your selected Rutherglen in the City session include:
- Tastings from participating Rutherglen wineries
- 100+ wines to discover
- Your Rutherglen wine glass to keep
- A Rutherglen Events and Wine Guide booklet with discount codes
- Opportunity to book intimate $5 Wine Chats
- Opportunity to purchase take away, boutique premium wines, only available at cellar doors.
What's waiting for you
16 Rutherglen wineries. 100+ wines.
This isn't a traditional wine tasting.
It's an afternoon spent moving from producer to producer, glass in hand, meeting the people behind the bottles and discovering just how diverse Rutherglen has become.
Taste the icons. Find something unexpected. Ask the winemaker what they're drinking right now.
Your ticket includes entry to your selected session, tastings from participating wineries and your own Rutherglen wine glass to take home.
More than Muscat & Durif
We love the wines that put Rutherglen on the map. But there is another side to the region worth knowing.
Across Rutherglen today you'll find winemakers working with everything from sparkling wines and crisp whites to Italian and Portuguese varieties, lighter reds and alternative styles.
At Rutherglen in the City, you can taste the classics alongside the wines shaping what comes next.
The heroes. The modern twists. And plenty in between.
Wine Bar, Wine Chat Series
Want to go a little deeper?
Throughout the day, our intimate Wine Chats put a handful of wines, a winemaker and a story around the same table.
Explore a variety you’ve never tried. Compare different expressions of a Rutherglen favourite. Hear directly from the people growing the grapes and making the wine.
Wine Chats are small, relaxed and designed for curiosity, with no wine expertise required.
Wine Chats: $5 per person
Limited places available.
50 Shades of Red | Scion Wines
11:30am
Classic grape varieties, reimagined. Join Scion winemaker Rowly Milhinch for a tasting that explores a different side of Rutherglen reds, with plenty of personality along the way.
A Decade of Durif | Warrabilla Wines
12:15pm
Big, bold and unmistakably Rutherglen. Taste your way through a decade of Warrabilla Durif and discover how one of the region's hero varieties evolves with time.
Silken Sip | Pfeiffer Wines
3:30pm
Fortified wine and cheese? Absolutely. Join Pfeiffer Wines for a guided tasting matching their Rutherglen Aperas with cheese and discover why this classic wine style deserves another look.
Wine Chats can be added to your Rutherglen in the City ticket for $5 per person. Places are strictly limited.
Participating Wineries
The following wineries will be at Rutherglen in the City Melbourne in 2026:
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
Lake Moodemere Estate
Morris of Rutherglen
Olive Hills Estate
Pfeiffer Wines
Scion Wine
Stanton & Killeen Wines
Warrabilla Wines
