We’re spoilt for choice in Australia with a range of epic wine regions to visit—whether you’re a red, white, sparkling, or fortified lover, you’ll find yourself adding multiple new cellar doors to your favourites list! We’ve rounded up some of the best Aussie wine regions for you to check out on your next holiday among the vines, packed with local flavours and bottles of the most delicious wine the country has to offer.
Clare Valley, SA
Kroener Winery, photo by South Australian Tourism Commission
South Australia’s Clare Valley is less than two hours' drive from Adelaide, and you'll feel right at home visiting the many charming towns that make up the picturesque region. One of the oldest wine regions in Australia, it’s best known for riesling, but the unique terroir of the Valley also lends itself to equally exceptional shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.
With over 30 cellar doors, many of them surrounded by breathtaking vineyard views, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Don't forget to check out the Riesling Trail which stretches from Auburn to Clare and is perfect for riding your bike from winery to winery.
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McLaren Vale, SA
d’Arenberg, photo by Tourism Australia
Only 45 minutes south of Adelaide, McLaren Vale is a wine lover and foodie’s paradise. Best known for producing shiraz, McLaren Vale also excels in ultra-premium grenache and cabernet, and due to its favourable growing conditions, is seeing a rise in the popularity of Spanish and Italian varieties such as fiano, vermentino, tempranillo, and sangiovese.
There are over 80 vineyards and most cellar doors also have food on the menu, ranging from those with gourmet restaurants, to tasty pizzas, or Instagrammable platters. Cycle along the nine-kilometre Shiraz Trail and soak in the stunning views of wineries, farms, gumtrees, and ocean views.
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Coonawarra, SA
Di Giorgio Family Wines
Nestled in South Australia’s south-east, the Coonawarra Wine Region is a small strip of land in the heart of the Limestone Coast. Full bodied reds are the order of the region, with 90% of the grape production being red varieties and cabernet sauvignon the hero.
There are over 30 cellar doors all within close proximity, so you can taste until your heart is content. Many of them also have great food offerings, from platters to restaurant meals, and room for the kids to run around while you find your new favourite drop!
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Penola Coonawarra Caravan Park
Barossa Valley, SA
It takes just over an hour to reach the famous Barossa Valley, which is bursting with flavour and some of the best Australian wines. Here, you'll find more than 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors. Maggie Beer's Farm Shop and Cafe is another favourite to find fresh food and wine products overlooking the lake.
Drive along the palm tree-lined stretch of Seppeltsfield Road, browse the gardens at Barossa Valley Estate, or cycle up to the Mengler Hill Lookout and Barossa Sculpture Park. There are so many delights waiting to be uncovered in the Barossa!
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Swan Valley, WA
Lancaster Wines, photo by Tourism Australia
The Swan Valley, only 25 minutes from Perth, boasts Western Australia’s oldest vines. First planted in 1829, it is known for producing exceptional verdelho, shiraz, and cabernet, as well as specialty liqueurs.
Swan Valley is home to over 40 world-class wineries, so you will be spoilt for choice. More than just a wine region, the Swan Valley is also home to many different growers and producers. Breweries, distilleries, chocolate makers, cheese makers, and other gourmet artesian goods will satisfy even most the discerning foodie.
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Margaret River, WA
Vasse Felix, photo by Tourism WA
In the south-western corner of WA lies the Margaret River wine region, a vibrant and popular destination well known for its cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, and chardonnay. The region shares a similar climate to that of Bordeaux, with their wines displaying a distinct European style.
The region is also a gourmet food lover’s delight with locally grown olives, venison, award-winning cheeses, organic fruit and vegetables, and chocolate, plus an abundance of fish and seafood caught just offshore. With numerous celebrated restaurants and chefs, there is something to tempt every palate over a leisurely lunch or cosy dinner, perfectly matched to the local wines.
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Great Southern, WA
One of the biggest wine regions in Australia, WA’s Great Southern stretches 100km north to south, and 150km east to west. Being the coolest wine region in WA, the main varieties produced are riesling, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and chardonnay.
There are more than 70 wineries and the distance between cellar doors means visitor numbers are often lessened, giving you the opportunity for many personal wine tastings and a good chat with the winemaker. The Singlefile Wines cellar door in Denmark is a must-visit, with an impressive lineup of wines to sample plus their Coco d’Vino experience, which pairs wine and chocolate—a double win!
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Riverina, NSW
Yarran Wines, photo by Unwined Riverina
The Riverina region in southern central New South Wales is the state's largest producing wine region, as well as home to six of Australia's top 20 largest wine companies.
Lovers of Italian varietals will revel in a visit to the Riverina! Many Italian immigrants moved here after the first and second world wars and began making wines they enjoyed drinking back home, and these are now a staple of the region. It is also world renowned for making exceptional dessert wines as well as botrytis semillon and fortified wines.
There is a huge range of cellar doors to taste your way through, from boutique cellar doors through to some of Australia’s most well-known family wineries.
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New England Australia, NSW
Home to World Heritage wilderness and world-class wines, the high-altitude New England Australian wine region will give you a new perspective. With a long tradition of grape growing stretching back to the 1800s, the region has earned international acclaim for their classic cool climate wines, especially chardonnay, riesling, and pinot noir.
Enjoy uninterrupted views from the Topper’s Mountain cellar door, surrounded by acres of state forest, while sampling their award-winning wines. Trek further into the region for spectacular views and beauty throughout the New England National Park.
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Yarra Valley, VIC
Giant Steps, photo by Tourism Victoria
Only an hour's drive from the heart of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley has some of Australia's coldest growing conditions, well known for their cool climate pinot noir and chardonnay. You’ll revel in the stunning scenery of rolling green hills, secluded natural valleys, and towering trees as you travel between cellar doors.
Featuring a vast array of vineyards, the region produces a wide variety of wines to suit any palate, as well as being home to world-renowned distilleries, breweries, and cideries. Don’t miss a visit to the De Bortoli cellar door, where you can do a paired wine and cheese tasting or indulge at their restaurant.
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Goulburn Valley, VIC
Fowles Wine, photo by Tourism Victoria
Take a trip to the sprawling Goulburn Valley, an area stretching from Seymour in central Victoria right up to Echuca on the Murray River. The valley features great wine growing conditions with mild weather, plenty of water, and sandy soils. A must-visit is Tahbilk Winery and Vineyard, established in 1860. Tahbilk introduced Rhône varietals such as marsanne, shiraz, and rousanne to the area, and these varieties still feature prominently today.
The Goulburn Valley is also home to prolific orchards, growing apples, pears, peaches, and other stone fruits, so keep your eyes peeled for farm gate sales of fresh produce!
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Tamar Valley, TAS
Pipers Brook Vineyard, photo by Jarrad Seng
The stunning Tamar Valley is the oldest wine region in Tasmania and is a truly cool climate wine region producing exceptional quality wines reflective of Tassie’s pure soil and air. While the region makes a range of varieties from chardonnay and riesling to pinot noir, their specialty is their sparkling wines, which are considered by many to be second only to Champagne itself.
With 32 vineyards in the Tamar Valley, you can visit a range of cellar doors, from those nestled in tiny old buildings to modern, purpose-built structures.
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