The suburb of Murrumbeena gets to taste the best of Australia with the opening of the area’s first ever bar, Murrumbeena Wine Bar.
Murrumbeena Wine Bar is the brainchild of Ericka Argiris, a woman with a strong passion for local Australian producers and community values. Covid-19 shattered Argiris’ long term dream of owning and operating a wine bar, but she’s back on her feet and ready to showcase her newly renovated venue. The team are excited to finally re-welcome Murrumbeena locals and the wider Melbourne community alike to enjoy a corner cafe turned bustling bar. The venue features an incredible outdoor laneway, filled with live music, great food and an even better, all Australian, beverage selection.
Argiris gained her hospitality knowledge through working with the Crown group as a teenager and later in London. These experiences led to her passion for all things food, beverage and hospitality. Just prior to Covid-19’s arrival she decided to make her dream a reality and apply her new found knowledge to her own establishment. It was a sudden realisation that “if she didn’t act now, then when would she be able to?” Murrumbeena Wine Bar now lies in a beautiful one hundred year old building, built between 1920 and 1921 as an investment for George Wardrop, a proprietor of a successful chain of tailors. The venue has become a local flagship for great food, beverages and entertainment located on the busy intersection of Murrumbeena Road and Railway Parade.
Murrumbeena Wine Bar has been transformed into a dark and moody, yet welcoming old English style bar, complete with leather bench seats, historical photographs of the village and a rustic timber bar. Yet, a walk outside to the wine garden you’ll find a completely different vibe; a modern city laneway filled with street art, an array of lush greenery and space for live music to take stage.
As all wine lovers know, no wine bar is complete without an extensive wine list, a few cheeky cocktails and of course, cheese. This is the foundation that crafted a menu that locals were asking for. Wine pairing food including the likes of charcuterie boards and a tapas menu featuring salt and pepper calamari, jalapeno poppers, and baked cheese. The bar also keeps things fresh by offering set days of the week to host collaborations with other local restaurant owners.
The beverage menu is even more enticing. A strong focus on small, boutique Australian wineries and independent breweries and distilleries saw Argiris handpick her beverage offering, ensuring “every label has a story worth talking about.” You’ll find a unique sparkling like the
Australian Women in Wine Award winner Sarah Collingwood’s Four Winds Sparkling Riesling or bold reds such as a 2019 Sorrenberg Cabernet Sauvignon, a drop from a family with over 500 years of wine making experience. If you’re more of a cocktail lover, Murrumbeena Wine Bar covers the classics such as espresso martinis, amaretto sours and spicy margaritas. A crowd favourite however is the original Spring Fling, a gin based cocktail featuring mandarin liqueur, lemon juice and organic rhubarb syrup sourced from a small local business.
Community is a high priority to Argiris, especially since so many Murrumbeena locals did everything they could to support each other during six Covid lockdowns. To strengthen the feeling of connection, Murrumbeena Wine Bar hosts an array of weekly events to ensure there is never a dull moment in the suburb. From gin tastings, wine and cheese tastings, book club, trivia night, live music and singles nights coming up, Argiris has worked hard to support her community whilst championing the brand she’s created.
Being the only bar in the suburb, Ericka Argiris knew she had an opportunity to showcase small and local wine producers, whilst encouraging a sense of community at her venue. Murrumbeena Wine Bar allows customers the chance to try some of the best wines, brews and spirits Australia has to offer, all while creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for the community and
wine-lovers across Melbourne to enjoy. Whether you fancy a Friday knock off wine with friends, a few beers and live music on a Saturday night or perhaps you’re on the hunt to find love, Murrumbeena Wine Bar is South East Melbourne’s newest and most exciting venue with personality and heart, ready and waiting for you to come say hi.
Murrumbeena Wine Bar is located at:
77 Murrumbeena Rd, Murrumbeena, VIC, 3163
Opening Hours:
Wed + Thur: 4pm – 10pm
Fri + Sat: 4pm – 11pm
Sun: 1pm – 8pm
