The quality, diversity and originality of Australian wines are all hard to replicate. Some of the best wine regions in the world are right here in this corner. Spread all across the country, different wineries offer different varieties of drinks, complemented with good food! From the biodynamic wines to the Italian encounter, you’ll find everything down under. Here are some of the top wineries you must visit and don’t forget to book party bus hire for an entertaining ride.
Cullen Wines
Producing just 3% of Australian Wine, the Margaret River Region accounts for 20% of premium wine in the country. This family owned vineyard is one of the oldest in Western Australia ever since 1971. Biodynamic variety is the key highlight of this place, with the most famous wine being Kevin John Chardonnay.
There are long wooden tables overlooking the vines from the verandah, and you can book for a private tour and tasting at the vineyard, where you can learn more about the winery and biodynamic gardens. Just beyond the cellar door is the restaurant full of gastronomic experiences. There’s a large kitchen garden growing seasonable vegetables, and also a good place to take a walk. Some of the garden’s bounty include fennel, spring onions, potatoes, herbs, beetroot and edible flowers.
King Valley
Known to be the most traditional Italian wine region in Australia, the King Valley was once a tobacco country, which has transformed into a wine producing region over the last 3 decades. Tucked away in a quiet corner, this region is home to alternative grape varieties, with many of them having crafted by Italian families who have lived here for generations.
Some of the top wineries in the area include Chrismony, Dal Zotto and Pizzini, all of whom make Italian varieties like Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Barbera. When you walk into the cellar door of Dal Zotto, you’ll be welcomed for wine tasting. On the weekends, you can enjoy traditional Italian meal and other delicious dishes. This area is roughly 3 hours’ drive from the airport.
Cuppitt’s Winery and The Vineyard Kitchen
Hidden away at one end of a quiet lane, these couple of wineries sit nicely among picturesque vineyards, with panoramic views of Buawang mountain ranges and Burill Lake. The high-class restaurant provides an opportunity to sample the bounty of fresh, seasonal produce including vegetable, herbs and Black Angus Cattle, coupled with handcrafted wine. Visit the historic cellar door of the winery, talk to the winemakers and taste wines, as you indulge in a long lunch from the light menu. Get an appointment to go for an underground tour, sampling directly from the barrels and curves.
There’s a couple of luxury resorts within a short drive from the winery, located in the seaside town of Mollymook. Once you are done tasting the exquisitely delicious wines, hop over to one of these resorts for some leisure time.
Jacob’s Creek and The Orlando Wines
Known to be the largest wine brand in Australia with over 160 years of wine producing expertise, the Jacobs Creek has established a reputation as one of the most premium wine offerings in the entire Barossa Valley. The philosophy behind wine making is to craft high quality wines in a modern Australian style, which are great tasting and show true character. From its humble beginnings in 1847, a young immigrant, Johann, planted the first commercial vineyard in the region. It was in a small ironstone winery, which is still existent today, where you can feel a true sense of this place, inspect the cellar and walk the historic vineyard.
The Orlando wines has been recreating that effect ever since it has taken the charge, along with a tempting combination of food, wine and culinary tourism experience. While you sip a glass of wine, enjoy the sweeping views of vineyard and the rolling hills.
Tyrell’s Wines
Known for its inventive style of Shiraz and Semillon, the Hunter Valley Wine Region is home to some of the most renowned wineries in the country, with over 120 cellar doors and 60 cafes and restaurant as old as the early 19th century. Tyrell’s Wines is one of the favourites, with its world class Vat1 Semillion acknowledged to be the best variety on the planet. With a historic red cellar door and old oak vats, the Tyrrell’s Wines is situated in the original 1864 winery, offering group tastings. One of the key highlights is the Murray Tyrell Tasting including their oldest and most awarded wine collection.
Sourced from a selection of favourite chardonnay blocks, the wine produced here are extracted from both hand and machine picked grapes, before they are pressed and fermented. While they mature in older French oak barriques, enough time is given for the palate to add texture and complexity.
Seppeltsfield
Another one from the good books of Barossa Valley known for the reds made from Grenache and Shiraz grapes, Seppeltsfield was established in the year 1851 and is home to some of the best fortified wines in the country. It’s the only winery in the world with a signature century-old vintage wine each year and is famous for its centennial collection. Here, you can taste table reds released in small parts from the historic 1888 Gravity Flow Winery, Tawny made in your birth year and the famous 100-year old Para Vintage Tawny.
The vineyard tour takes you around the heritage listed buildings and stunning gardens of the property, along with the Centennial Cellar and a chance to taste a tawny port directly from the barrel.
Domaine Chandon
The Yarra Valley is home to some of the most prominent winemakers in Australia, particularly known for its outstanding pinot noir varieties, stellar Chardonnay and sparkling wines. It was way back in 1838, when the first grapes were planted. Founded by the champagne house Moet and Chandon, the Domaine Chandon is one of the leading producers of sparkling wines in this area. The winery tour can accommodate 24 people at a time and it offers wine tastings of all sorts, including lunch at the Greenpoint Brasserie, accompanied by a fantastic view of the beautiful countryside.