The Daylesford and Macedon Ranges area is fast securing a reputation as one Australia’s most interesting and diverse wine regions. Already renowned for the elegant pinot noir, chardonnay and shiraz it produces, the cool climate region is expanding its reputation for sparkling wine, pinot blanc, riesling and, increasingly Italian grape varieties like vermentino and nebbiolo. The diversity is amazing but it can also present a challenge for those wondering where to start. Which is where Daylesford Wine Tours comes in.

Daylesford Wine Tours has been running wine tours in the region for nine years and was taken over last year by Ange Webster and Chris Taylor, friends who, with their spouses, have both moved to the area in recent years, Chris from Sydney and Ange from Melbourne. What began as only a semi-serious suggestion turned out to be, Chris says, “a great opportunity to lay some roots in and promote an area we really love”.

“Ange and her husband were buying a house In Eganstown and the owner of the property had set up Daylesford Wine Tours,” says Chris. “He somewhat jokingly suggested that they should buy the business too. We actually thought it sounded like a good idea that stacked up.

Ange and I had worked together before, me in sales and marketing and Ange in finance. We had the balance right and so we decided to do it.”

“It helped that the business was already really well established and had a fantastic reputation,” says Ange.

Though they have no official knowledge of wine they saw this not just as a great business opportunity but as a way to broaden their own horizons. It helped that the business came with some long-term and incredibly knowledgeable local tour guides who were not only able to talk about the region’s wineries but of stories about and history of the region itself.

“One of the great things about the wine tours is that you have a local showing you around,” says Ange. “So you get to see spots that you wouldn’t otherwise discover and hear stories that only someone with an intimate knowledge of the area can tell you. You get to experience both well-known wineries like Passing Clouds, and Attwoods alongside smaller, lesser-known ones, plus we also include the region’s distilleries, breweries and cideries in the mix.”

Daylesford Wine Tours offers an impressive range of options, full day and morning tours, which include lunch, and afternoon tours that take in three cellar doors and end with a tasting at one of Daylesford’s distilleries. There are group, private and corporate tours that all include a pick-up and drop off service to and from the customer’s accommodation so people can enjoy the bounty without having to worry about driving.

The company also asks for people’s preferences when they book so they can match each tour with the interests of the customers.

“There are often people on the tours who have a broad knowledge of vintages and grape varieties and so have specific interests but there are also those who don’t know the area at all and just want to have a fun day out with a guide showing them the best of what’s available,” says Chris. “Every tour is different.”

Ange and Chris are also planning to expand the reach of Daylesford Wine Tours and are currently looking at running tours out of Bendigo and Ballarat. But for now, their best advice is to book early to avoid disappointment. Word is spreading about the unique diversity of Macedon Ranges wines meaning Daylesford Wine Tours is in demand.

Daylesford Wine Tours
daylesfordwinetours.com

0473 302 206
Half day and full day tours available