What it is
Torquay Wine Store is a bottle shop and wine bar in one, at 19A Gilbert Street in the middle of town. Mick and Sarah Dowling, a husband-and-wife team, opened it in December 2021. The idea is simple: every bottle on the shelves can be bought to take home or opened at a table, and there's always a changing list of wines by the glass.
Inside it's polished concrete, recycled timber, big front windows and local art on the walls. It's mostly walk-in, and they say they rarely turn anyone away, even when it's humming, so you might end up on the communal table. Groups of six can book on request: ring 0414 388 212 to check availability. It's a relaxed place for a glass in the late afternoon, a drink before dinner, or a long catch-up over a cheese board. And if you're staying nearby, it's a good place to pick up a bottle for the house on the way home, with someone to help you choose.
Photo: Torquay Wine Store,
used with permission 
Photo: Torquay Wine Store,
used with permission 
Photo: Torquay Wine Store,
used with permission The wine
Mick spent around 20 years in the wine trade, including as a distributor selling to bars and restaurants, before opening the store, and looks after the list. It runs to more than 300 wines, from around the world and from closer to home, with Burgundy, Barolo, German riesling and Champagne alongside Australian names and small makers. Local makers are on the shelves too: Leura Park, from the Bellarine, lists the store as a stockist. Choose any bottle to drink in and corkage is added to the shelf price.
The by-the-glass list changes often, so it's an easy way to try a few things without committing to a bottle. Tell the staff what you usually like and what you want to spend, and they'll steer you. If it sparks a cellar door day, our wineries guide covers the Surf Coast, the Bellarine and the Moorabool Valley.
Food, beer and cocktails
The food is made for sharing over a bottle: charcuterie, cheeses, terrines and pâtés, plus more substantial plates like flatbreads, meatballs, fries and saganaki, with specials that change with the season. Order a few plates between you and it easily makes an evening. The menu changes regularly.
It's not only wine. There are local beers on tap, a big range of cans, classic and house cocktails, and spirits, so the non-wine drinkers in the group are covered.
Photo: Torquay Wine Store,
used with permission 
Photo: Torquay Wine Store,
used with permission 
Photo: Torquay Wine Store,
used with permission Hours and events
When we checked in October 2026, the store's website listed:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 3pm to 8pm
- Friday and Saturday: 3pm until late
- Sunday and Monday: closed, except that it opens on Sundays through December and January
Cocktail hour runs from 5pm to 7pm, Tuesday to Thursday, and happy hour is on Fridays from 3pm to 6pm.
The store also runs tastings and wine events. They're announced to its mailing list first, which you can join on the website.
An evening on Gilbert Street
Gilbert Street runs down to The Esplanade, so a walk along the foreshore at Front Beach is a couple of minutes away. A glass here, then dinner, is an easy night out. Captain's Catch is on the same street if you'd rather have fish and chips on the lawns, and Fisho's is just around the corner on The Esplanade. For a later drink by the water, Point Danger Beach House is a short walk south along The Esplanade.
Taxis are scarce in Torquay, so if you've driven in, sort out the trip home before you open the second bottle.
Torquay Wine Store FAQ
Where is Torquay Wine Store?
19A Gilbert Street, Torquay, in the main shopping street.
Can I drink a bottle from the shelves?
Yes. Any bottle can be opened in the bar, with corkage added.
Does it serve food?
Yes, share plates: charcuterie, cheese, terrines and pâtés, and heartier plates like flatbreads, meatballs, fries and saganaki.
Is it open on Sundays?
In December and January, yes. The rest of the year it's open Tuesday to Saturday from 3pm, and closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Can I book a table?
It's mostly walk-in, but groups of six can book on request. Ring 0414 388 212 to check availability.
Is there a happy hour?
Cocktail hour is 5pm to 7pm Tuesday to Thursday, and happy hour is 3pm to 6pm on Fridays.
Is there beer?
Yes, local beers on tap and plenty of cans, plus cocktails and spirits.
For more places to drink, see our pubs and bars guide. Staying in north Torquay? Check dates at Holyday House.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 21 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Torquay Wine Store — Torquay Wine Store (official)
- Menu — Torquay Wine Store (official)
- More than wine at Torquay's newest wine bar — Bellarine Times
- Torquay Wine Store — Young Gun of Wine
- Stockists — Leura Park Estate