South West Victoria Tipple Trail
The South West Victoria Tipple Trail showcases locally produced whisky, gin, wine, beer and liqueurs across the volcanic plains and coastal districts of south-west Victoria.
The trail extends from Timboon and Dixie through Mepunga, Warrnambool, Killarney, Koroit and Macarthur before continuing to Casterton and Portland. Its venues range from small family vineyards and appointment-only producers to established cellar doors, restaurants, breweries and distilleries.
The complete route covers a large area and is best divided across several days. Opening hours can change seasonally and some venues require advance bookings.
South West Victoria Tipple Trail Map
Trail Locations
1. Timboon Railway Shed Distillery
Timboon Railway Shed Distillery occupies a restored railway goods shed at the end of the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail. The family-owned distillery has produced small-batch single malt whisky and other spirits on site since 2007.
Its whisky is made using malted barley and methods inspired by the single malts of Scotland. Visitors can enjoy guided tastings, drinks and a seasonal menu featuring local ingredients. The covered deck is heated during winter and cooled during warmer weather.
Current hours: Open daily from 11am-5pm. Check the linked website for public-holiday changes and bookings.
Address: 1 Bailey Street, Timboon VIC 3268
Phone: (03) 5598 3555
2. Babche Wines
Babche is a small family-operated organic vineyard and farm in the hills around Timboon. The vineyard has dense plantings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc among diverse native and productive vegetation.
The fruit is hand-picked and fermented with minimal intervention before being bottled unfiltered and without preservatives or other additives. The name honours the matriarchs, or babches, of the owners' families who traditionally made wine by hand.
Tours and tastings are available by appointment. Contact the winery before visiting.
Address: Shop 3, 9 Main Street, Timboon VIC 3268
Phone: 0487 561 365
3. Keayang Maar Vineyard
Keayang Maar Vineyard occupies a striking position on the rim of a volcanic maar crater at Dixie. Winemakers Barry and Sierra Wurd use a minimal-intervention approach to create red and white wines that reflect the vineyard's free-draining volcanic soils and mild, cool climate.
The cellar door offers wine tastings, sales, pizza and grazing options featuring regional produce.
Current hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 11am-5pm. Bookings are recommended and can be made through the linked website.
Address: 182 Maguires Road, Dixie VIC 3265
Phone: 0492 423 856
4. Mepunga Wines
Mepunga Wines is a small family-operated boutique winery producing Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Gris.
The business has vineyards at Mepunga and Warrnambool and makes its wines on site using a low-intervention approach. Each wine is intended to express the grape variety, vineyard conditions and cool coastal climate.
Winery tastings and sales are available by appointment. Contact the winery through its website before visiting.
Address: Great Ocean Road, Mepunga East VIC 3277
5. Middle Island Brewing Co.
Middle Island Brewing Co. was a family-owned small-batch brewing company inspired by Warrnambool's coastal environment and its Little Penguin colony.
Its range included locally themed beers such as Southern Ocean Ale, Guardian and Get Shuck'd Oyster Stout. The brewery did not operate a public taproom and instead supplied local stockists and attended regional events.
Middle Island Brewing Co. announced that it was completing its final batch and closing in February 2025. It is retained here because it appears as location 5 on the 2025 trail map, but it is no longer a current visitor destination.
6. Basalt Wines
Basalt Wines occupies a vineyard near Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve where ancient volcanic activity created rich soils close to the Southern Ocean.
Visitors can sample cool-climate wines at the cellar door or settle in for a leisurely lunch featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Mediterranean influences feature prominently in the food, which is designed to complement the vineyard's wines.
Basalt now also offers vineyard accommodation. Check the linked website for current cellar-door and restaurant hours, tasting charges, accommodation and bookings.
Address: 1131 Princes Highway, Killarney VIC 3283
Phone: 0429 682 251
7. Noodledoof Brewing and Distilling Co.
Noodledoof is a craft brewery, distillery and taproom created by two mates in the centre of Koroit.
Its beers incorporate local ingredients and change with the seasons, producing an evolving tap list. The distillery's gins use native botanicals such as coastal correa, lemon myrtle and mountain pepper.
Food, beer, spirits and tasting paddles are available at the taproom. The venue also hosts live music and other events.
Current hours: Monday to Thursday from 10am-5pm, Friday from 10am until late, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm. Check the linked website before travelling.
Address: 128 Commercial Road, Koroit VIC 3282
Phone: (03) 5545 3178
8. Suffoir Winery, Brewery and Distillery
Suffoir offers a farm-to-bottle experience on an 18-acre property near Macarthur. The family-operated business produces handcrafted spirits, wines and beer.
Visitors can enjoy tastings and lunch in the rural setting. The venue has indoor and outdoor areas and can also accommodate functions and special events.
Suffoir welcomes families and dogs, although dogs should remain under control and current conditions should be confirmed with the venue.
Opening days and hours change seasonally. Check the linked website or contact Suffoir before visiting.
Address: 144 Mount Eccles Road, Macarthur VIC 3286
Phone: 0430 382 432
9. Casterton Distilling Co.
Casterton Distilling Co. combines traditional distilling methods with contemporary flavours and locally influenced products.
The small distillery creates spirits intended to balance conventional flavours with modern botanical and stylistic influences. Tastings and direct sales may be available at its Henty Street premises.
Check the linked website or telephone the distillery to confirm current tasting times before travelling.
Address: 27 Henty Street, Casterton VIC 3311
Phone: 0408 825 891
10. Neart Tide Distillery
Neart Tide is a family-owned artisan craft distillery and was Portland's first legal distillery.
Its gins are handcrafted on site in small batches using traditional methods and high-quality ingredients, including locally grown and sourced botanicals.
The distillery offers tastings, cellar-door sales and collection of online orders at selected times. Check the linked website or contact the distillery before visiting.
Address: 8 Kalina Court, Portland VIC 3305
Phone: 0491 601 539
Planning the Trail:
The trail stretches for hundreds of kilometres and should not be attempted as a single tasting journey. Divide it into geographical sections and nominate a driver who will not consume alcohol.
Possible sections include:
- Timboon and Dixie: Timboon Railway Shed Distillery, Babche Wines and Keayang Maar Vineyard
- Mepunga and Warrnambool: Mepunga Wines
- Killarney, Koroit and Macarthur: Basalt Wines, Noodledoof and Suffoir
- Casterton and Portland: Casterton Distilling Co. and Neart Tide Distillery
Visiting with Children:
Some trail venues serve food and welcome supervised children, but they are working breweries, wineries and distilleries rather than children's attractions.
Children must remain closely supervised, particularly around production areas, vineyards, machinery, dams, roads and licensed service areas. Contact individual venues to confirm their current family-access arrangements.
Alcohol can only be purchased or consumed by visitors aged 18 years or older.
Access for Dogs:
Dog access varies between venues. Suffoir promotes itself as a dog-friendly destination, while other venues may only permit dogs in designated outdoor areas or may prohibit them because of food-service, livestock or production requirements.
Contact each business before bringing a dog.
