Rutherglen’s best wineries here in Canberra? They had us at 15 cellar doors.

Move over, winter-wine-ter is on its way with Rutherglen’s long-awaited return to town on Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14.

Oh Rutherglen. One of Australia’s most scenic wine regions, brimming with boutique wineries and foodie hotspots. And just four hours away, it’s a perfect long weekend. Can’t get away? It doesn’t matter – next month Rutherglen will come to you.

Held in Canberra for the first time since 2019, the insanely popular Rutherglen in town celebrates its return by kicking it up a notch with two days of tastings and an elegant wine dinner at Pialligo Estate.

Takes place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August, Rutherglen in town is essentially a collection of multiple cellar doors in one place, with 15 Rutherglen wineries represented in two sessions. It’s the perfect way to get a taste of one of Australia’s most delicious wine regions without the road trip.

One ticket ($35-40) gives you access to tastings of over 100 wines, as well as your very own Rutherglen in the City Plumm tasting glass, a variety of food, and live entertainment.

Find a drop (or more) that you love? Take advantage of the event’s complimentary wine concierge service, which allows guests to “check” their wine purchases rather than balancing bottles as they taste. Simply purchase your wine of choice as you walk through the various cellar doors and then collect it from the concierge on your way home.

But the day is about more than just good wine. Rutherglen in town offers the full cellar door experience – more often than not, the people who pour your wine are the winemakers themselves, ready to tell you their story.

Do you like to be up close and personal? Your ticket also includes the opportunity to book an intimate masterclass – from Muscat Blending to Sparkling Wines and Rhone Valley Varieties (and everything in between), you’ll learn something new and taste wines you may not have tried before.

Want to taste a true fusion of the Canberra and Rutherglen regions? A five-course wine dinner will crown the weekend; the menu has been carefully curated by Pialligo chefs and paired with fine Rutherglen wines. It’s the perfect way to enjoy good food and wine, and good company.

This can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.