While there is something slightly horror film-esque about the name, a moment here is enough to realise that there’s nothing frightening about Cannibal Creek. Located in Tynong North, West Gippsland (only about 60km from Melbourne), this vineyard boasts five hectares of vines, and a restaurant and cellar door, complete with an open fireplace and a long jarrah bar for wine tastings.
Patrick and Kirsten Hardiker have been running Cannibal Creek Vineyard for over 20 years. They’d spent a decade living in the wine regions of Western Australia prior, but returned to Victoria to take over what was then a cattle farm from Pat’s parents. Vines were planted on the site in 1997, a winery and a small tasting room were built three years later, and the new restaurant and cellar door were finished in 2016.