The best places for cheese and wine in Melbourne

Just in time for the chilly season, Prahran Market's fave cheese stall Maker and Monger has launched a dine-in experience. 'Cheese Your Own Adventure' with an incredible selection of cheese and wines. How does it work? Have a chat with one of the wine connoisseurs and cheese lovers that work at the shop, and they'll assist you in building your own bespoke cheese board to enjoy alongside a bottle of wine served at a wallet-friendly retail (not restaurant) price. If you don't finish your vino, you can take it home with you. Simply pick your desired weight of cheese, and add $15 per cheese board to cover all the accoutrements like crackers, dried fruits etcetera. The vibes at Prahran Market are always lively and fun, but this cheese 'n' wine arvo definitely takes it to the next level. 

Brought to you by powerhouse team Lyndon Kubis and Charley Snaddon-Wilson (the Moon, Clover), the Alps is a charming and intimate wine bar that toasts drops from the foothills of the European Alps. Its 400-strong library of bottles can be drunk in the bar or taken away, and there is a rotating wine-by-the-glass menu for those who appreciate diversity. Enjoy your tipple with a curated wine-centric menu comprising snacky delights that highlight seasonal produce. And cheese? Procured from Prahran Market icon Maker and Monger, the selection champions alpine styles while simultaneously celebrating local, with bread from Q Le Baker and oozy Backyard Honey honeycomb. Perfect for a tête-à-tête, this is the venue you'll want in your date night arsenal. 

This Brunswick newcomer is the next best thing to a time portal trip to old world Paris. A petite French bistro, natural wine bar and cheese lover's dream all in one, this is the place to go if you're craving a quality drop and a selection of excellent fromage. The cheese menu offers 1-cheese and 3-cheese plattes, which you can customise with a small (but delicious) curation of both local and French options – best paired with a bottle of vino. Check out the current food and drink menus at the website. 

This is the ultimate local gem. Matheson is as cosy as they come, with friendly staff who operate using the "nothing is too difficult" mantra. Everything here feels systematically organised to enhance your comfort and experience, from judicious heater placement during winter to gargantuan how-can-you-possibly-make-a-profit-on-this cheese plate servings. It has a variety of fromage to pick from, but from our comprehensive experience, the chef's choice is the way to go. For $52.00 you'll receive two kinds of cheese and charcuterie options, which come with carefully selected accompaniments like pickled onion, balsamic and olive oil, chillis, fruit, candied figs and not one but two carby modes of transport to mix and match your way to grazing plate nirvana. The wine list is broad and has plenty of Australian and international options with in-depth tasting notes. Aside from the cheese and wine, Matheson's strength is in its staff, who have that ineffable quality that makes you feel like you're the only customer in the bar. Bonus points: it's super dog friendly. 

Sick of wondering where you can get cheese and wine at 1am? Beneath Driver Lane has got you sorted. Located in unassuming Driver Lane, finding this prohibition-style bar will give you a smug sense of being in the know. The wine list is extensive, with a good selection by the glass. The list caters to nouveau-style drinkers with plenty of oranges and skin contact varieties but will also satisfy those who like their reds heady and their whites crisp. Food is French-bistro-chic and doesn't confine cheese to its plate format. Have your dairy as a three-cheese toastie or baked as a camembert with truffle honey and herbs. If you're more of a purist, the fromage selection is considered and concise, with one of each of the necessities. Cheeses are $14 for a single or 3 for $40, and all come with prune puree and Rustica bread. And get this, the food is served until 3am, so you can skip the Maccas and satisfy your cheese cravings at all hours of late night. 

Milk The Cow is the holy grail for cheese lovers in Melbourne. The licensed fromagerie boasts a large cabinet (four or five meters, depending on the branch) that houses up to 180 local and imported cheese varieties. Each cheese can be purchased by the gram, or you can go with a pre-selected cheeseboard, which ranges from $30 to $43. If you're feeling fancy, the creme de la crop cheeseboard is a selection of five of its rarest cheeses served with quince paste, muscatel clusters, freshly baked bread and housemade lavosh. There are no constraints here, and cheese doesn't just come on a board. Choose from deep-fried camembert, raclette and fondue, and indulge all your cheesy fantasies. The wine list is small, but bottles are selected on their cheese compatibility, and staff will knowledgeably talk you through the best vino to accompany your meal. 

Campbell Burton and his wife, Charlotte Ryan, own Public Wine Shop, an esteemed and inviting wine bar in Fitzroy North. Campbell's joy in his product permeates the venue, and you can often see him waxing lyrical about the wines on offer. This zero-snobbery venue is perfect for those looking for an easy-going, relaxed affair. All the wines come from organically farmed grapes, and staff can discuss each bottle in great depth. Food is by the accomplished Ali Currey-Voumard (previously of Agrarian Kitchen), and the menu changes daily based on seasonal produce – although it tends to err towards comforting French classics. Like the rest of the menu, the cheese changes regularly, with one to three options available. You can expect the likes of a slightly sweet Mossvale Blue or a Jean Perrin Secret de Scey (a pasteurised version of the raw milk Morbier). Sit at the large communal table in the centre for a dinner party atmosphere, or score one of the tables out front to enjoy the sunshine. 

Glou in Collingwood has done the seemingly impossible and created a vegan cheese plate so creamy and morish it rivals even the most dairy-laden version. Using cheese as your excuse not to eat vegan won't fly here. Graze your way through three kinds of cheese, pickles, nuts and chips while sipping on one of 16 rotating on-tap wines. The best part? Glou is a sustainable wine dispensary which means you can buy an empty bottle in one of three sizes and bring it back when you're ready for a refill. It also works out to be roughly 30 per cent cheaper than your average wine retailer. It doesn't matter if you can't decide which drop to go for, as the staff are only too happy to chat you through flavour profiles – and you can try any of the wines before you buy. All the wines stocked come from environmentally conscientious vintners, making this the perfect venue for those looking for a guilt-free good time. 

When Kirk’s sprung up in a historic corner building flanking Hardware Lane and Little Bourke in 2014, the likes of Miznon, Pho Thin, Hardware Club, Rice Paper Scissors and Hawker Boys were nowhere to be seen. In the fluctuating mix of cafés and restaurants that have periodically occupied one end of Hardware Lane to the other end of Hardware Street, Kirk’s has remained a constant. It's also a dang good spot for a cheese and wine date, thanks to its gorgeous selection of ripe cheeses and one of the best selections of wines in town. 

Small French Bar in Footscray has reimagined the classic French bistro as a modern and inviting wine bar, presenting an irresistible combination of contemporary ambiance with timeless flavours. The fromage plate features an ever-changing selection of delectable French cheeses, or you can go complete Francophile and order a crêpe, which comes perfectly browned and stuffed with three kinds of cheese. Though curated, the exclusively French wine list offers all the necessary pairings to complement the rich food. 

From the brains that brought you Gin Palace comes Bijou. A charming bottle shop-wine bar hybrid that has compressed old-world elegance into an intimate boutique setting. Floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with hundreds of bottles line the venue, giving the impression of a chic wine cellar. The wine-centric design may be intimidating to novice vino drinkers, but Bijou staff are friendly and approachable. They'll happily talk you through the countless varieties and ensure your glass – or bottle – is perfect for your palate. Cheeses come in the form of a Delice De Bourgogne (a sinfully good triple cream cheese), BellaVitano (a hard cow's cheese) and a blue. Think of it as an edited but considered selection that contains all the requisites for a well-rounded, want-for-nothing cheeseboard. Otherwise, try the cult favourite Croque Fromage – a playful three-cheese sandwich on toasted sourdough with onion jam, mustard and a side of cornichon. 

Brimming with good vibes, the Valley Cellar Door is beloved by locals and wine enthusiasts alike. The relaxed ambience is infectious, and although it's always teeming with customers, the effect is less claustrophobic and more 'I'll have what they're having'. With more than 500 bottles of wine available and a massive selection of by-the-glass options, you'll have your work cut out for you when deciding. However, don't be discouraged – owner Mark Pendreich was a sommelier for Marco Pierre White, so you know his recommendations hold up. There's a drop for every price point and palate, and the many cosy nooks make it the perfect spot to while away an evening. Cheese falls under the don't-overcomplicate-it umbrella with cheeseboards containing a crowd-pleasing trio of brie, cheddar and blue, otherwise you can get some hot options such as pan-fried saganaki with pickled baby figs or a cheesy pizza. 

Need help getting your wine and cheese fix before midday? Zsa's Bistro and Deli has got you covered with an 11am opening time. The snacky menu is designed to share, which is good news as you'll want to try everything – including the sardines on toast, stracciatella with pickled green tomatoes and French onion dip with chicken skin. The cheeses rotate but always consist of a soft, a blue and a hard option. Food is at the forefront of this venue, but the wine list covers all the basics with plenty of easy drinking options. If your inner cheese goblin still needs to be satiated, you can grab some cheeses from the front deli section to continue the party at home.