Behind the Scenes of Rutherglen Muscat: Experiences at Stanton & Killeen
A glass of Rutherglen Muscat at the cellar door is one of life’s genuine pleasures. But if you have ever looked at that glass and wondered what is really behind it, how it is made, what makes one tier different from the next, and what it would feel like to blend your own, we have built a range of experiences designed to answer exactly that.
At Stanton & Killeen, we have been making Rutherglen Muscat for seven generations. Our cellar is home to century-old barrels, rare aged stocks, and a winemaking team that genuinely loves talking about this wine. These experiences are your invitation to come behind the scenes.
Whether you are looking for things to do in Rutherglen on a weekend visit, planning a special occasion, or searching for a gift for the wine lover in your life, here is everything on offer.
1. Muscat Classification Tasting — $25 per person
No booking required. Available every day at the cellar door.
The best place to start. Our Muscat Classification Tasting takes you through all four tiers of Rutherglen Muscat, from the fresh and fragrant entry-level Rutherglen Muscat through to our extraordinary Rare, in a guided seated tasting at the cellar door.
Each wine in the classification tells a different part of the same story: the same grape variety, the same soils, the same barrels, but with dramatically different ages and levels of complexity. Tasting them side by side is the single best way to understand what Rutherglen Muscat is really about and to find your favourite tier.
At $25 per person with no booking required, this is one of the most accessible and rewarding wine experiences in Rutherglen. Simply walk in and ask for the classification tasting at the cellar door.
Can’t make it to Rutherglen? Pick up our Muscat Classification Pack online: all four wines delivered to your door for $290 with free shipping. It is the closest thing to being here. LINK TO MUSCAT CLASSIFICATION PACK
2. Mystery of Muscat — $80 per person
Approximately 1.5 hours. Bookings required.
For those who want to go well beyond the cellar door. The Mystery of Muscat is an immersive masterclass that takes you inside the winemaking story of Rutherglen’s most celebrated wine, guided by one of our dedicated Muscat experts.
The experience begins with a tour of our century-old winery: the barrel halls, the old casks, the tin-roofed sheds where Muscat slowly concentrates over summer and winter. Your guide will take you through the winemaking process from harvest to bottling, sharing the secrets behind the solera blending system, the angels’ share and what makes each tier of the classification distinct.
The experience concludes with a full classification tasting, each Muscat paired with handcrafted chocolates chosen to complement and contrast each tier. It is a pairing combination that converts people for life.
Perfect for: wine enthusiasts, special occasions, groups with a genuine curiosity about fortified winemaking.
3. Master Blender: Blend Your Own Muscat — $160 per person
Approximately 2 hours. Bookings required.
This is the one for anyone who has ever wanted to sit in the winemaker’s seat. The Master Blender experience takes everything you learn in the Mystery of Muscat and adds a hands-on blending session that challenges you to put that knowledge to work.
The experience begins with a tour of the cellar and a full classification tasting alongside your expert Muscat guide, learning the characteristics of each tier and age component as you go. Then comes the best part: with a series of different Muscat components in front of you, you trial different blends and ratios until you arrive at a combination that is entirely your own.
Once you have found your blend, you bottle 500ml to take home. Your bottle, your blend, your label. No two bottles from this experience have ever been the same.
Perfect for: serious wine lovers, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate groups and anyone who wants a genuinely unique souvenir of Rutherglen.
BOOK THE MASTER BLENDER EXPERIENCE
4. Crafted to Perfection: Fortified Wine Experience with a Take-Home Barrel — $1,975 per person
Approximately 4 hours. Bookings required.
The ultimate experience for the serious fortified wine enthusiast. Crafted to Perfection is a half-day immersive workshop that goes deeper into the world of fortified winemaking than any other experience we offer, culminating in a gift that keeps giving long after you leave Rutherglen.
Under the guidance of our winemaking team, you will explore the full story of fortified wine production: the history, the technique, the science of maturation and the art of blending. You will then have the opportunity to craft your own fortified wine blend, learning how to balance flavour, age and complexity to achieve something you are genuinely proud of.
To mark the occasion, you leave with a 10-litre handcrafted home barrel. Your blend goes into the barrel, and you take it home to continue the aging process yourself. Over the months and years ahead, you can draw from it, top it up, and watch your wine develop in your own space, on your own terms.
It is, without question, one of the most memorable and unique wine experiences available anywhere in North East Victoria.
Perfect for: milestone birthdays, bucket list experiences, serious collectors and anyone who has ever wanted their own barrel of fortified wine.
5. Winemaker Barrel Consultation — $80 per appointment
Approximately 1 hour. Bookings required.
Already have a home barrel? This one is for you.
The Winemaker Barrel Consultation gives you one-on-one time with our winemaker to fine-tune your existing barrel and take it from good to great. Your wine is tested in our laboratory to understand where it currently sits in its development, then you work through a blending session together, with the winemaker’s full attention on your specific blend.
You will leave with a clear, tailored plan: what your wine needs, how to get it there, and what to expect over the months ahead. Whether your barrel is brand new or has been aging for years, this consultation gives you the expertise and confidence to make the most of it.
Perfect for: anyone with an existing home barrel who wants professional guidance on getting the best result.
Which Experience Is Right for You?
New to Rutherglen Muscat: Start with the Classification Tasting at the cellar door. No booking, no commitment, just great wine and a knowledgeable team to guide you through it.
Want to understand the full story: The Mystery of Muscat gives you the winery tour, the winemaking knowledge and the paired chocolate tasting in one beautifully structured experience.
Ready to get hands-on: The Master Blender experience is the one. Two hours, a full tasting, and a bottle you blended yourself to take home.
Looking for something truly special: Crafted to Perfection is unlike anything else in the region. A half day with our winemaking team and a barrel of your own to take home.
Already have a barrel: Book a Winemaker Consultation and let us help you get the most out of it.
Plan Your Visit
The Classification Tasting is available every day at the Stanton & Killeen cellar door with no booking required. All other experiences require advance booking and are available year-round.
Stanton & Killeen is located at 440 Jacks Road, Rutherglen, Victoria, approximately three hours north-east of Melbourne. We are open seven days a week.
Book your Rutherglen Muscat experience at stantonandkilleen.com.au/experiences.
