Melbourne’s wine bar scene has exploded in the last three years. Natural wine went from niche to mainstream, and suddenly every suburb has at least one place where someone in a vintage band tee will passionately explain why this skin-contact orange wine from the Yarra Valley is going to change your life.
The Essential Wine Bars
Wine by Sam (CBD)
Sam serves wine the way it should be served — without pretension. Walk in, tell them what you usually drink, and they’ll pour something better. The by-the-glass selection ($14-22) rotates weekly. The charcuterie board ($28) is the best value food pairing in the CBD.
Marion Wine Bar (Fitzroy)
The Fitzroy institution. If Melbourne’s wine bar culture has a spiritual home, it’s this narrow room on Gertrude Street. The all-Australian wine list is a statement — and their bottled selections ($45-120) are consistently interesting without being wanky.
Neighbourhood Wine (Fitzroy North)
Part bottle shop, part pour-over bar. Buy a bottle at retail and drink it in for a $15 corkage — genuinely the best value wine experience in Melbourne. The staff recommendations are excellent.
City Wine Shop (CBD)
Spring Street’s answer to Marion. Broader wine list (international focus), excellent by-the-glass program ($15-24), and a cheese counter that’s doing God’s work.
Natural Wine Tier
Embla (CBD)
Where Melbourne’s natural wine obsession arguably started. The wine list is a textbook in minimal-intervention winemaking. The share plates ($16-28) match perfectly. Expect to spend $80-100 per person and feel good about it.
Lulu’s (South Yarra)
Tiny bar, big personality. Natural wine from small Victorian producers you’ve never heard of — and should. The sommelier’s pick ($16 glass) hasn’t missed once in my experience.
Bar Liberty (Fitzroy)
The cocktail bar’s wine-loving sibling. The by-the-glass selection ($14-20) leans adventurous — pet-nat, orange wine, low-intervention reds from Eastern Europe. If you’re wine-curious, this is your training ground.
Price Guide
| Experience | Per Glass | Per Bottle | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| By-the-glass bar | $14-22 | n/a | Exploration |
| Bottle shop + corkage | $5-15 corkage | Retail price | Value |
| Restaurant wine list | $16-28 | $50-150 | Full evening |
| Tasting flight | $35-50 (4-6 wines) | n/a | Learning |
Updated March 2026. Support your local bottle shop.
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