It was while lying on a Thai beach that Tony Pendreich first had the idea to open a bar. That idea eventually turned into the Mordy Cellar Door, in Mordialloc, a joint venture that became one of Melbourne’s first bottleshops to invite customers to bring their own food, pull up a chair and enjoy the beers and wines on offer in store.

Seven years on, he’s bringing the successful formula to Moonee Ponds, where, with wife Rose and his sommelier brother Mark, they are combining their expertise in the wine industry with a passion for boutique producers at the Valley Cellar Door. Customers can treat it as a bottleshop specialising in local wines and Australian craft beers or pay a corkage fee to enjoy their purchases on site, where there’s a choice of tables and chairs out front, cosy indoor seating or a landscaped courtyard at the rear.

Valley also features four draught taps that are constantly rotating through different beers and offers growlers that allow customers to take draught beer home. The Valley Cellar Door offer nibbles, including cheese and cold meat platters, but encourage people to bring whatever takes their fancy. They’ve even installed a BBQ out back that’s proving popular with regulars.

Valley holds regular tastings and wine flight evenings and has plans to host events where guests can sample beer and wine in the company of winemakers and brewers. With the highly regarded Mike Press Wines as the house wine, it’s one of a growing number of BYO food bottleshops and a great little spot to find craft beer in a part of the city where choice is limited.