Rutherglen: Blend Your Own Muscat at Stanton & Killeen Winery

Summary

Hands-on muscat blending in a historic Rutherglen winery with tasting and stories

You’ll step into Rutherglen’s oldest winery for a guided tour full of stories before tasting through rich Muscats and learning their secrets. Then you’ll get hands-on blending your own bottle — experimenting with flavors until it feels personal. Take home your custom-labeled creation as proof you’ve done more than just sip wine here.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the air inside Stanton & Killeen’s old winery to smell so much like raisins and sawdust — it hit me right after we left the sun outside in Rutherglen. Our guide, Carol (she’s been with the family for ages), waved us over to these giant old casks lined up like sleepy elephants. She told us about seven generations of winemakers here, and I swear you could almost hear echoes in those creaky floors. I’m not a wine nerd, but something about hearing her talk about “Classic” and “Rare” Muscats made me want to taste every single one. So we did — tiny sips, each thicker and sweeter than the last.

The real fun started when they brought out four different Muscat parcels for us to blend. There were measuring pipettes (I felt like a science kid again), and Carol kept nudging us to try weird ratios. My first mix was too sharp — I think I made a face. The others laughed, so I tried again, swirling it around until it tasted just right: warm, syrupy, almost spicy at the finish. It’s weirdly satisfying to build something from scratch, especially when you can bottle it up with your name on the label. And yeah, maybe I’ll share it back home… or maybe not.

By the end, my hands smelled faintly of grapes and wood, and there was this quiet contentment in our little group. Someone asked Carol how long she’d worked here — she just grinned and shrugged, like time moved differently among barrels that old. Walking back outside into the dry heat felt like waking up from a nap you didn’t know you needed. Honestly, I still think about that moment when my blend finally came together — simple but kind of perfect, if that makes sense.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Blend your own Muscat wine

• Tour 19th Century winery
• Learn history and winemaking
• Taste Rutherglen Muscat styles
• Sample four Muscat parcels
• Create your own Muscat blend
• Bottle blend with custom label

Top questions

How long does the Blend Your Own Muscat experience take?

The activity typically lasts around 1.5 to 2 hours including the tour and blending session.

Is this Muscat blending class suitable for beginners?

Yes, no prior wine knowledge is needed; guides walk you through each step.

Can I keep the Muscat blend I create?

Yes, your personalized blend is bottled with a custom label for you to take home.

Are there tastings included during the experience?

You’ll taste several styles of Rutherglen Muscat as part of the session.

Is Stanton & Killeen Winery wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the winery is wheelchair accessible and service animals are allowed.

Is lunch included in this experience?

No meal is provided; the focus is on wine blending and tasting only.

Can pregnant travelers join this activity?

This activity is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to alcohol tastings.

What’s included

Your visit includes a guided masterclass in Muscat blending at Stanton & Killeen Winery, a behind-the-scenes tour through their historic cellars led by an experienced local guide, plus tastings across different Muscat classifications before you craft your own blend to be bottled with a personalized label for you to take home at the end.