We use cookies to optimize your experience, analyze traffic, and personalize content. To learn more, please visit our Privacy Policy. By using our site without disabling cookies, you consent to our use of them.
Upcoming Events
At Best’s Wines historic cellar door in Great Western we host a variety of events throughout the year. We offer live music, art exhibitions, guided tastings with the Thomson Family and wine blending sessions.
Local food and wine pairing events and even virtual wine masterclasses and tastings. Plus we also attend offsite tastings, wine dinners and pop-up tastings at wine festivals and markets. Scroll down to see our upcoming events.
Stables till 8pm
We’re Staying up late!
Best’s Stables cellar door will stay open until 8pm on Friday September 18th
Settle in with a glass of your favourite Best’s wine and enjoy toasty trio with the Reuben, the Roast Veg and the Ham and Cheese.
Created with Nick and Jackie’s Blue Wren Bakery bread and expertly prepared by Jody and Co Catering.
AFL Grand Final Weekend
Start planning your AFL Grand Final Weekend. We’ll have two special Long Weekend tastings for $10 and $15 as well as platters available to share with friends from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September.
Our $10 tasting brings together wines from our Great Western and Concongella ranges. Our $15 tasting gives us the opportunity to showcase a special wine alongside our Great Western and Concongella wines.
Celebrate your long weekend with us here at Best’s Cellar Door
Friday 25th open 11am – 4pm Long Weekend tasting + Platters
Saturday 26th open 10am – 5pm Long Weekend tastings + Platters
Sunday 27th open 11am – 4pm Long Weekend tastings + Platters
Platters are generally priced between $10 and $70.
Grampians Wine Festival Launch 2026
Celebrate the Grampians Wine Festival Launch; Thursday October 1st, 4pm – 8pm at the Ararat Town Hall.
Join Grampians wine makers as they come together to launch a month-long series of events.
Sample some of the finest wines grown here on our doorstep as local wineries unite and bring their cellar doors to the Ararat Town Hall foyer for all to enjoy!
Bring your family and friends to enjoy wine tastings, food trucks and live entertainment.
Wine tasting ticket holders will receive an arm band prior to tasting wine. Proof of age may be required.
General Admission: Free to all ages.
Wine tasting tickets $10 each.
Valhalla BBQ Food van will be selling some of their famous American Style BBQ
OktoberBEST Festival
FREE ENTRY – SAVE THE DATE
Join Best’s Wines in Great Western on Sunday the 25th of October, for the OktoberBEST festival!
Celebrate fun, great wine and beer, friendships, family and community spirit. We have teamed up with some amazing producers and local community including
- Award-winning craft brewery Paper Scissors Rock from Halls Gap
- Blue Wren Bakery are baking sourdough pretzels
- Our local Great Western Football Netball Club are going to fire up the barbie with Pyrenees Premium Cuts
- Coffee and cake van
- Live music from 11-4pm
(The Doodads Duo Ron & Sparky followed by The Darling Project, bringing together tight grooves, smooth vocals and soulful melodies) - Local market stalls
- Free face painting all ages.
Melbourne Long Weekend 2026
Reserve your Long Weekend Tasting experience.
BOOKINGS ARE WELCOME
We love a long weekend at our cellar door, and we have created a tasting experience that features wines from across all our ranges so that our guests, really can experience it all. Book in for a ‘Long Weekend Tasting Experience’ and sample wines from across all our ranges.
Our Pick a Platter cheese boards will be available throughout the weekend. Remember if you are travelling with children or adults not intending to drink, please specify this in the booking notes so we can seat you appropriately. Booking take priority over walk ins.
Cost: $10 or $15 wine tasting.
- Saturday 31st October Open 10am – 5pm Long Weekend Tastings + Platters
- Sunday 1st November Open 11am – 4pm Long Weekend tastings + Platters
- Monday 2nd November Open 10am – 5pm Long Weekend tastings + Platters
- MELBOURNE CUP Tuesday 3rd November Open 11am – 4pm
Long Weekend tastings + Platters
Staying locally? browse some accommodation options.
Stables Dinner - November - SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT- Join us for dinner!
Hosted by our friendly Cellar Door team, the Stables dinner offers a chance to share good food, fine wine and stories from the heart of Best’s Great Western. Members of the Thomson family often drop by to welcome guests when they’re around.
Chef Douglas Kerr from Peasant Ballarat is pairing up with Best’s Wines for two Stables dinner events. With just 20 seats on our long table, this intimate wine and dining event offers a memorable culinary journey.
We are very pleased to offer a number of non-drinking ticket options for guests to join us for dinner.
For any dietary concerns please contact Jess at our Cellar door (03)5356 2250
Stay for dinner and the weekend? Browse some Great Western accommodation options on our blog
Inquire about the Great Western Pick up / Drop off service.
Places limited to 20 seats
Feeling Social?
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram and view one of our tasting videos of a new release wine. Subscribe to the Thomson Times monthly newsletter for the latest news on all upcoming new releases, special offers and events, at our cellar door, online and on the road.
Get in touch and ask a question and our team will do their best to answer them.
Stay in touch
We have a monthly newsletter and quarterly events update, The Thomson Times, to help everyone stay connected. Sign up and keep up to date on upcoming wine releases and winery events. You don’t want to miss out!