Forget the usual wine trails – these sister towns know how to drink, and they’re quietly becoming one of the country’s most rewarding places to do so.

The Garden State has a lot to love, but it’s a particular delight for anyone who enjoys a well-made drink. From the windswept edges of the Great Ocean Road to the High Country’s alpine peaks, you’ll find distillers, brewers and winemakers making exceptional libations, often in a heartfelt tribute to the land.

And while regions like the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula tend to hog the spotlight for their cellar doors and cool-climate drops, the twin towns of Echuca and Moama, just across the river in New South Wales, add in a rustic riverside backdrop, heaps of small-town charm, and winemakers who are just as happy to pull up a chair as they are to pour.

In short

Echuca Distillery has spirits that’ll make you do a double take, Two Lads Brewing are the rising stars and Morrisons Winery is full of cute kookaburras eyeing your drink – but our soft spot goes to Old School Winery, the only place that offers honey wine and hand-thrown pottery under one roof.

1. Cape Horn Vineyard & Riverside Bar, Echuca

Right on the Victoria-NSW border and just 20 minutes from Echuca’s town centre, Cape Horn Vineyard & Riverside Bar is as much a part of the area’s history as the paddle steamers that mosey along the river. The first shiraz grapes were planted here in the 1870s, aimed at the workers of the timber boom and to cater to the first flames of tourism. Today, visitors can enjoy a rather magnificent sparkling Durif, as well as wood-fired pizza and grazing platters under a shaded outdoor patio or, in winter, by the outdoor fires. Make sure to get here on a weekend for live, acoustic music.

Address: 489 Stewarts Bridge Rd, Echuca Village VIC 3564

2. Morrisons Winery, Moama

Most people know Moama’s Morrisons Winery thanks to Murray River Paddlesteamers: it’s the star of their Wharf to Winery Cruise & Lunch package. The one-hour return cruise delivers guests to the estate for a seasonal two-course lunch, complimentary drink (beer, wine or something booze-free), and a wine tasting of estate-grown reds and whites. Close to town yet utterly secluded, Morrisons is a slice of pure Australiana: go to see the river catching the light, kookaburras in spades, and kangaroos draped like shadows between the vines.

Address: 123 Merool Rd, Moama NSW 2731

3. The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota

Ever wondered what Australian bush honey might taste like with a dash of booze? The delicious meads at this Womboota cellar door answer that question beautifully. Roughly a 30-minute drive northwest of Echuca, the Old School Winery has charm seeping out of every corrugated slat. You’ll be introduced to the wild world of mead (the drink of medieval heroes, so they’ll tell you), which you can sip under century-old peppercorn trees. And if that wasn’t joyous enough, there’s a working pottery studio next door. Bring your own picnic and really make a day of it.

Address: Moira Road &, School Rd, Womboota NSW

4. St Anne’s Winery, Echuca

Don’t expect a vineyard at this one – St Anne’s Winery is right in the middle of Echuca’s historic Port, backing onto the town’s lively high street. As with all the St Anne wineries, this spot is known for its free tastings, delivered by friendly, local experts. The moment you walk in, you’re surrounded by giant old whisky barrels in a handsome, industrious space that has ended up on many a couple’s dream wedding location shortlist. As for wines, there’s everything you could wish for, but the full-bodied shiraz, crisp rosé, and sweet tawny options tend to see the most guests purchasing a bottle on the way out.

Address: 53 Murray Esplanade Echuca VIC 3564

5. Bandicoot Brewing, Echuca

Tracy Green and her husband, Bruce, were home brewers with a dream. This came true in 2014 when the pair opened Bandicoot Brewing, the town’s first brewery to call its own in more than a hundred years. Award-winning brewer Tracy sees this family-owned favourite delivering all kinds of cult concoctions, from passion-fruit-forward pale ales to malty red ales, smooth blondes and creamy stouts. As for the brewery itself, it’s open to the public on Friday and some Saturdays (it’s best ring ahead to check). Grab the $16 tasting paddle and ask the Green team all the questions you’d like – they’ll love answering.

Address: Factory 2/100 Northern Hwy, Echuca VIC 3564

6. Echuca Distillery, Echuca

You can’t get a more primetime spot than Echuca Distillery, tucked into the high street behind its glamorous facade: Bar Lee. This distillery is where small-batch spirits meet seriously good food – a spot where you can watch distillers at work through the glass walls while enjoying $25 tasting flights, beef brisket nachos, and neat pours of gin, vodka or whiskey. Drinks nerds will especially enjoy some of the more unusual drops (the Coconut Arrack is a marvel). As for the distillery’s entrepreneurial spirit – pardon the pun – you can see it in action each September at their boozy brainchild: the Spirit on the Murray drinks festival.

Address: 555 High St, Echuca VIC 3564

7. St Anne’s Winery, Moama

Unlike its town-centre sibling in Echuca, this St Anne’s Winery in Moama is an infinitely more al-fresco spot, positioned at the edge of a rather picturesque pond. Free tastings showcase a fabulous selection: sparkling Brut, Shiraz rosé, a whole range of fortifieds and liqueurs, and all guided by knowledgeable staff (shout-out to Kim and Hana). We love their generous cheese platters, the relaxed atmosphere out on the patio, and that furry friends can join the fun. Guests often leave with more bottles than they intended, proof that the St Anne’s Winery dynasty – now more than half a century old – continues to get it right.

Address: 77 Twenty Four Ln, Moama NSW 2731

8. Two Lads Brewing, Moama

Two Lads Brewing started with two mates, a few late-night homebrews, and – eventually – one rule: if it doesn’t ignite a reaction, it doesn’t leave the brewery. Based in Moama, the duo’s bold, flavour-packed beers are already stocked in local pubs and restaurants around both towns, winning them a legion of locked-in fans. And if they weren’t already the ones to keep an eye on, 2026 brings the next chapter for Two Lads Brewing: a full-blown tap house for beer lovers, complete with all the bells, whistles – and frothy pints – you could ask for.

Address: 9 Neil St, Moama NSW 2731