Wine Regions

Great food & wine are a part of the Australian experience

Australia is fortunate in that many of its premium wines come from particularly beautiful parts of the country.  The spectacular surf coast at Margaret River is where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet – the Cape Leeuwin national Park has some stunning coastal walks.  The Clare Valley is one of Australia’s longest settled regions; its rustic and charming towns bear witness to their first British settlers and its vineyards remain small and mostly privately owned. 

The history, the setting and the wine styles do vary yet common to all are superb restaurants, produce markets, art and craft galleries, walking trails and welcoming country folk.  Expert local guides can be arranged or you may choose to make your own discoveries.   Some of our best known wine regions are -

Margaret River – Western Australia

Responsible for producing less than 1% of Australia’s wine but over 15% of Australia’s premium wine, the 50 or so wineries in the region offer an impressive selection. Boutique breweries, exquisite cheese product, jams and condiment producers, a marron (freshwater crayfish) farm, olive groves and even chocolate and fudge factories add to the gourmet experiences. Couple this with an immense array of galleries and the area offers visitors a fabulous opportunity to experience the work of local producers and artists.

The Hunter Valley – New South Wales

Although renowned as one of Australia's oldest and greatest wine areas, The Hunter produces only a tiny proportion of its wines - about 2 per cent. First established more than 150 years ago, it is home to some 80 wineries ranging from famous labels to very small 'boutique' winemakers. The Hunter is renowned for its full-bodied white wines, 'medium weight reds' and some excellent ports. The range is huge though the output is small.

The Barossa Valley – South Australia

In Australia’s richest and best-known viticulture and winemaking region, the wine industry has developed along a different path to the traditional European one - although some growers did make wine for their own use, the majority sold grapes to the wineries.  The Barossa’s pool of 540 expert vignerons have blended their knowledge of the land with modern viticulture practice, creating a partnership with the wineries whose specialist skills make the most of this superb fruit. The Barossa is renowned for its big reds such as Shiraz and Cabernets and its strong German heritage.

The Clare Valley - South Australia

A cooler growing area than the Barossa, The Clare Valley is actually an area of four interconnecting valleys. There are close to 30 wineries within the region which produce a range of styles and varieties, however they are best known for their Rieslings. Quantity from the Clare Valley is limited, with only 5 wineries crushing more than 500 tonnes. The emphasis is on quality, and many boutique wineries can be found hidden behind weeping willows and tall red gums.

Tasmania – North & South

Tasmania has an excellent reputation for the production of premium cool climate wines such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  The whole island is an official wine zone and there is a broad division between Northern Tasmania and Southern Tasmania and within this division there are distinct viti-cultural areas which include Pipers Brook, Tamar Valley, the North West and Eastern Tasmania, and in the south, the Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley, Huon Valley and D' Entrecasteaux Channel. The island has a range of microclimates and soil types which gives Tasmanian wines their diversity of character.

Yarra Valley & Mornington Peninsula – Victoria

To the east of Melbourne discover over 55 wineries in the Yarra Valley, from small family owned vineyards to the famed Chateau Yering and Domain Chandon, you'll taste stunning pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling.   Nearby the Mornington Peninsula boasts in excess of 170 vineyards many of which have wineries attached.  The region serves up sea views and great food to accompany the wines.