Urban winery experience opens in Melbourne

Talented winemaker Rory Lane, who makes wines using fruit from several different regions on Victoria, has just opened a new urban winery and tasting room in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin.

Lane's The Story Wines, a five-star Halliday-rated producer. has unveiled a new home - an innovative urban location in a district that is a fast emerging hub of breweries, distilleries and craft makers.

Open Wednesday to Sunday, the new space gives Melburnians access to premium, small-batch Victorian wines close to home.

Grapes are sourced primarily from the Grampians, Henty and other premium Victorian regions and brought directly to the urban winery, where they are made in a "hands-off"’ style in small quantities.

“I’ve dreamt of opening up a space like this for 20 years - where top-flight wines can be sampled from bottle and barrel, without the need to travel an hour or more to wine country,” says winemaker/owner Lane, who founded The Story Wines in 2004.

The Story Wines is best known for its single-vineyard syrahs (shiraz) and Rhône-inspired Victorian whites.

Visitors to the tasting room can drop in for a glass of wine and a snack, book a guided tasting experience, and tour the working winery.

“Our tasting flights level up from pet nat Prosecco, white blends and light, lunchtime reds to terroir-specific syrah comparisons and vertical tastings, and we’re hopeful that the locals will embrace it and want to learn more - or just drop in for a glass on a Friday arvo,” Lane says.

Snacks on offer include classic cheese and charcuterie plates from local farmers and fresh crusty loaves from nearby bakers. Lane also plans to run food truck events and open up the space for functions.

“Wine for us has always been about sharing stories,” he says. “We change our Grampians Syrah label every year to reflect the story of that vintage, and we have connected with the Melbourne writers’ scene by running short story competitions and sponsoring literary events, but with the tasting room open we finally have a place to share stories face to face.”

The Story Wines is at 47 Alex Avenue, Moorabbin, for tastings, tours and bottle sales from 11am-6pm Wednesday and Thursday, 11-7 on Friday and Saturday and 11-6 Sundays.

For more info and bookings visit www.thestory.com.au.