Amongst many things, Australia is a country of wine lovers! Our love affair with wine started after the first vines were planted in the 1830s. Since then, the number of vineyards has grown to some 2,400 wineries in 65 wine regions. No wonder Australia has become the fifth largest wine producer in the world. And while you are travelling Australia, you may want to include visits to some of the best wine regions in Australia to visit. Well, this post explores some suggestions.

Where Do You Find the Wine in Australia?

Vineyards and wineries are found in the ACT, NSW, Victoria, SA, WA, QLD and Tasmania. This is because their soils are suitable for growing different types of grapes to make the different wines. If you are travelling in one of these states have a look at my map to see where some of the wine regions of Australia are. Then get some more inspiration of wineries to visit from the suggestions of wine areas to visit by fellow wine lovers!

New South Wales

Hunter Valley

Favourite Australian Wine Region of Holly from Globeblogging

Less than 3 hours drive from Sydney can be found one of Australia’s most well-known wine regions, the Hunter Valley. Nestled amongst a picturesque landscape of rolling green hills, the Hunter Valley features more than 150 wineries spread throughout the region. While the main varieties of wine on offer are Shiraz, Semillon, Verdelho and Chardonnay, there are a number which offer specialty liqueurs, dessert, fruit and fortified wines.

One of the best things about the region is that it’s not just known for its wines, which makes it ideal for a weekend away. Throughout the year it plays host to a number of big artists, with several wineries converting their large property into a concert venue for the weekend. There are also cheese shops, dessert bars and a chocolate factory. Each Christmas the Hunter Valley gardens become a spectacle of millions of Christmas lights that are worth the visit alone.

Mudgee

Favourite Australian Wine Region of Lara from The Best Travel Gifts 

Pieter van Gent Winery, Mudgee

With a history of wine-making that dates back as early as 1858, Mudgee is one of the oldest wine regions in Australia. Tucked away in Central West of New South Wales, it’s only 270km (168 mi) west of Sydney and Newcastle. Making it a relatively easily short getaway from Sydney. Though not as close as the Hunter Valley, Mudgee is a lot less touristy and doesn’t nearly see as many day trippers as Hunter Valley does. Yet it’s still popular enough to find companies that can take you on small-scale wine-tasting tours through the region.

And that’s exactly why it’s the perfect destination for those who are looking for an authentic and peaceful opportunity to experience Australian wineries and vineyards. Originally, the region started out with the classic Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. They’ve extended the repertoire to anything from Riesling and Barbera to Vermentino and Pinot Grigio and even sweet wines nowadays. Lastly, if you’re planning to visit Mudgee, it’s advisable to stay overnight in the adorable eponymous village of Mudgee. Then you will fully experience the region (and recover from all that wine tasting).

Orange

Favourite Australian Wine Region of Carryn from Australia Obsessed

Cellar Doors in Orange

Nestled in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales lies one of Australia’s highest altitude wine regions: Orange. Thanks to the cool climate and mineral rich soil, Orange has made a name for itself by producing spectacular Chardonnays, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blancs. A tasting of these paired with a delicious locally produced cheese board makes for a winning combination.

There are over 60 wineries and cellar doors in Orange, ranging from boutique family-owned businesses to large scale commercial operations.

My favorites include Word or Mouth Wines for their intimate wine tasting experience or Swinging Bridge which offers panoramic views from their cellar door. Some wineries, such as Stockmans Ridge and Mortimers offer live music, while others include mouthwatering degustation menus. A wine tasting will set you back $10-$20 which usually includes 4 to 8 wines, with the option of a cheese or chocolate pairing.

Orange is a 4-hour drive from Sydney and an ideal destination for a wine weekend away with friends or family.

Southern Highlands

Favourite Australian Wine Region of Kate from KateAbroad.com

Wine tasting in the Southern Highlands

The Southern Highlands wine region is a hidden gem located just a 90-minute drive south of Sydney.

To reach the Southern Highlands, visitors can take the scenic Hume Highway/M31. Or catch a train from Sydney Central Station to Moss Vale or Bowral, the main towns in the region. The train is a very affordable option, but it is hard to get to many of the wineries without a car as they are mostly on the outskirts or between towns.

The Southern Highlands is known for its cool climate wines, particularly Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. This makes it quite unique in a country most famous for full-bodied reds. The region’s high altitude, rich volcanic soils, and cool temperatures create the ideal conditions for producing these wines.

The Southern Highlands tends to be less crowded than some of the more well-known areas like the Hunter Valley. This means wineries can offer more of a personal touch and cellar doors typically don’t require bookings.

Some of the best wineries in the Southern Highlands include Centennial Vineyards, Artemis Wines, and Tertini Wines. These spots not only offer exceptional wines but also some of the best Southern Highlands restaurants.

Exploring the Southern Highlands wine region provides a unique opportunity to savour world-class cool climate wines. While also enjoying the natural beauty of this farming region and exploring the quaint and historic small towns. Which offer great cafes and excellent boutique hotels, many housed in historic mansions.

Queensland

Granite Belt

Favourite Australian Wine Region of Michael of Travel Australia Time

The Ridgemill Estate in the Granite Belt

Queensland may not be known for its wine, but that’s one of the things that makes the Granite Belt so special. Rather than produce the standard Australian varietals, the region uses its cooler climate to focus on unusual grapes (or ‘Strange Birds’ as they’re called here). Think chenin blanc, viognier, saperavi, and sangiovese. With about 30 wineries, most open for tastings, you can try a much wider variety of interesting styles than at some of the other regions.

Beyond the wineries, there are lots of other things to do in the Granite Belt. Artisanal food tastings, fruit picking, a craft brewery, and even a workshop to make your own soap. The nearby Girraween National Park gives you a taste of nature, with striking granite boulder landscapes full of hiking trails. And there’s the peculiar Ballandean Pyramid made from 7,500 tonnes of rock!

The Granite Belt is about a 2.5-hour drive from Brisbane. It can be done as a day trip, but there’s enough to justify longer and I would certainly recommend a night or two here. With beautiful accommodation in the main town of Stanthorpe – or out at one of the wineries – it’s the perfect weekend escape.

South Australia

Clare Valley

Favourite Wine Region of Josie Klein from Exploring South Australia

Skillogallee Cellar Door

The Clare Valley is yet another of South Australia’s wine regions. It is located around two hours north of Adelaide and makes a perfect weekend getaway. Best known for its Rieslings which are considered world-class. Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are also popular, with lots of interesting and new varieties in the mix too.

With over 40 cellar doors dotted around the area, there are plenty of opportunities to taste the wines. There are big-name brands like Jim Barry and Taylors creating the classic wines loved for generations. And some funky new brands like Mad Bastards and Good Catholic Girl doing fun and interesting things.

The Clare Valley is not all about the wine, this is a foodie paradise too. Many of the cellar doors have great restaurants, such as Skillogallee and Pauletts. The Watervale Hotel is one of the best gastropubs anywhere – indulge in their degustation menu.

History buffs will love exploring historic homes in the area, including Martindale Hall, and learning about the first settlers at Sevenhill. There’s plenty to do outdoors too. Hire a bike and cycle the Riesling Trail, or pull on the hiking boots and hit the Wine & Wilderness Trail.

Next time you are in South Australia, visit a new wine region and head to the Clare Valley.

Adelaide Hills

Favourite Wine Region of Catrina from 24 Hours Layover

Vines in Adelaide Hills, SA

Adelaide Hills is one of Australia’s best wine regions. Renowned for its cool-climate wines, whether you’re a wine enthusiast or simply seeking a unique and scenic getaway from the city, The Adelaide Hills is a must-visit!

The Adelaide Hills are conveniently situated a 20 minute drive from Adelaide, making it an ideal day trip or a weekend getaway. You can easily visit by car, or there are tour operators that offer guided wine tours departing from Adelaide.

Adelaide Hills is renowned for producing exceptional cool-climate wines. The region’s high altitude and cool temperatures create ideal conditions for growing grapes that yield elegant and refined wines. It is particularly known for its world-class Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and sparkling wines. 

Adelaide Hills is also dotted with charming towns that exude a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Stroll through historic villages like Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, and explore its quaint streets filled with boutique shops, galleries, and charming cafes. The region is also blessed with breathtaking natural beauty, offering stunning vistas of lush vineyards, forests, and rolling hills that offer some of the best photo spots in Adelaide!

Adelaide Hills boasts a diverse range of cellar doors where you can indulge in wine tastings and immersive experiences. Many wineries offer guided tours, allowing you to learn about the winemaking process, stroll through the vineyards, and taste a selection of their finest wines. 

Barossa Valley

Favourite Australian Wine Region of Ann from The Road Is Life

Vineyards in the Barossa Valley

The Barossa Valley is situated in a picturesque regional area of vineyards and rolling hills, about one hour north of Adelaide. Known worldwide as one of Australia’s top wine regions, the Barossa is particularly famous for producing high quality red varieties such as Shiraz. 

Home to over 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors, visiting the Barossa Valley makes an excellent choice as a day trip from Adelaide. A popular way to day trip to the Barossa Valley is by booking a wine tour from Adelaide. This will ensure you can enjoy the wine tastings stress-free without worrying about driving back to Adelaide at the end of the day. 

The Barossa Valley truly lives up to its name. It not only produces top notch wines but offers a wide variety of other activities. Explore a national park nearby, cycle the Barossa Trail, dine at a renowned restaurant, take a stroll through one of the many quaint villages or perhaps start your day with a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.

If you’re seeking the perfect romantic weekend getaway from the city, you certainly won’t regret spending it in the beautiful Barossa Valley.

Mclaren Vale

Favourite Wine Region of Natalie from Curious Campers

Wirra Wirra Winery, McLaren Vale

The Mclaren Vale wine region in South Australia, less than 45 minutes from Adelaide. One of the many joys of the region is how easy it is to access. The Southern Expressway effortlessly whisks you out of Adelaide and down the coast to Mclaren Vale’s 160 vineyards and 70 cellar doors.

Unlike the grand chateaus and estates found in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale offers a more boutique wine tasting experience. Many of the vineyards being on a smaller scale and operated by the same family for generations. The region is best known for its reds, in particular its Shiraz. You’ll also find Cabernet sauvignons and Grenache along with other varieties.

Set amongst rolling hills and valleys, you are always guaranteed wonderful views from the cellar doors and restaurants. Having lunch at a McLaren Vale winery is a popular weekend activity. Your options range from a high end degustation at the D’Arenberg Cube to pizzas on the lawns at Paxton Wines. Woodstock Estate with its wildlife sanctuary and Maxwell Wines’ hedge maze are good family choices.

A fun way to explore the wineries is walking or cycling along the Shiraz Trail. A shared path that weaves its way past a dozen of McLaren Vales wineries. There are also lots of accommodation options in McLaren Vale too, from cute B and Bs to cabins at some wineries such as Serafino Wines.

Tasmania

Tamar Valley

Favourite Wine Region of Haley of Haley Blackall Travel

Tamar Valley Vineyards

Tamar Valley is a hidden gem when it comes to the best wine regions in Australia. Nestled into the Northern shores of Tasmania, the Tamar Valley wine region surrounds and follows the River Tamar from the capital of Launceston to the Bass Strait.

Tamar Valley is a cool climate wine region, specialsing in Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Noir varietals. And don’t forget about those delicious sparkling wines! As Tasmania’s largest and oldest wine region, Tamar Valley is chock full of boutique wineries along the hills surrounding River Tamar.

After a good night’s sleep at your Tamar Valley hotel, grab some beautiful Tasman products for a picnic in the hills. Or opt for a cheese plate at almost any of the wineries along your wine tour. Make sure to stop at the magnificent viewpoints along the scenic drive through the Valley. End your day enjoying a seafood meal at Mudbar Restaurant back in Launceston.

To reach the Tamar Valley, book a direct flight from any major city in Australia straight to Launceston. The valley runs from Launceston north to the river mouth and is best explored independently via car hire or through an organised wine tour.

Victoria

Milawa

Favourite Australian Wine Region of Dave from Everything Victoria

Grapes almost ready for harvest at Brown Brothers, Milawa

Looking to sample a diverse range of wines in a beautiful part of the country? Head to the King Valley in northeast Victoria. This high-country wine region isn’t as well-known as others in the state, but produces more varieties than almost anywhere else in Australia.

Starting in the fertile northern plains around Milawa and following the King River down the valley to 800m-high hills in the south, the area has been home to several generations of Italian families. First arriving to farm tobacco, they later switched to grapes, which helps explain why a certain sparkling wine variety is the region’s biggest export.

Take a drive down Prosecco Road, as it’s known, and stop in at some of the eight different cellar doors for a gourmet food and wine experience. Brown Brothers in Milawa is the most accessible and therefore most popular, but head further down the valley for a more relaxed experience at places like Pizzini Wines and Dal Zotto Estate. The King Valley wineries are an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne on the Hume Highway.

Yarra Valley

Favourite Wine Region of Sharyn of Discover Australia Now

Yering Station Wine Vats

Located a mere 30km north-east of Melbourne or about an hours drive is the Yarra Valley. It is one of the best wine producing areas in Australia. Over 80 or so vineyards, with most of them having a cellar door can be found in this picturesque part of Australia amongst the rolling hills. The cool climate makes it an ideal region for the production of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

You can go on an organised wine tour through the Yarra Valley however, the best way to visit the wineries is to drive. Follow the roads and you will see signage for many a cellar door. Some even have restaurants where you can dine on local Yarra Valley grown produce.

The oldest winery in Victoria is in the Yarra Valley – Yering Station having first had vines planted in 1838. It is a popular spot for day trippers from Melbourne and wine enthusiasts. If there on a Sunday, usually the first Sunday of the month, markets are held where you can buy local Yarra Valley produce before having a wine tasting in the cellar door.

Visiting the Yarra Valley wineries is a must-do on any visit to Melbourne.

Western Australia

Margaret River

Favourite Wine Region by Shandos Cleaver of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel

Grand Winery Entrance

The Margaret River wine region is one of the premier yet youngest wine regions in Australia. Located in the southwest corner of Western Australia, about a three hour drive south of Perth, this area was originally renowned for its surfing, but is these days equally well known for its wines.

The majority of the grapes grown in the Margaret River region are Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Semillon. Most is destined for premium wines, with white blends from the region also popular. Some of the most prestigious wine producers in the region include Cape Mentelle, Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix and Voyager Estate.

The majority of vineyards lie not far from the coast, situated between the namesake town of Margaret River and Yallingup to the north. The region is a popular tourist destination within easy reach of Perth, with crowds flocking to the cellar doors on the weekends, although many cellar doors are also open daily.

Another top attraction in the region is fine dining, with many cellar doors hosting restaurants onsite. Plus there’s a wide selection of luxury retreats and cottages to choose from, some with spas, perfect for a relaxing getaway.

The region is also home to a burgeoning craft brewing scene. Enjoy a break from wine tasting with a tasting paddle at one of the many breweries. Other top attractions include underground caves, towering forests, the scenic coastline and hiking.

Are You Ready to Discover Australia’s Wine Regions?

With over 2,400 wineries in some 65 regions in Australia there are plenty of opportunities for enjoying good wine. The above are just a few of the best wine regions in Australia, if you discover any others I’d love to here about them in the comments.

FAQs and Facts about Visiting Aussie Wineries

How many wineries does Australia have?

Australia has over 2,400 wineries in the 65 or so wine regions around the country. All states and territories have wineries except for the Northern Territory.

What is the most consumed wine in Australia?

The most popular wine variety in Australia is Shiraz. It is grown in most Australian wine regions.

Which Australian state has the most wineries?

South Australia hands down accounts for 52% of Australia’s total vineyard area. 

What are the three main factors of wine tasting?

When tasting wine the three main components are visuals, smell and taste. 

Where do you hold your glass while tasting wine?

You should hold all stemmed wine glasses towards the base of the stem. It will help you swirl your wine to get a good visual of it.

Best Way to Visit a Wine Region in Australia?

Wineries are spread out, so the best way to visit a winery is by car. A car will give you the flexibility to go where you want, when you want. Do make sure before any road trip through a winery, you give your car a few checks before hitting the road. And if driving, watch how many wines you consume so you aren’t driving over the limit. If you don’t have a car, check out rates and availability to hire one here. The option is to go on a wine tour. A tour will take you to select wineries in a wine region. They will usually include a tour of the winery explaining how wine is made before you enjoy some wine tasting. Lunch is usually included at one of the wineries before more wine tasting and being returned home.

How long should you spend in a wine region?

This is personal choice and depends on how long you have. A day is fabulous but you can also extend this by booking accommodation and staying overnight in a wine region. You can check out accommodation via Booking.com.

How to Get a Job in an Australian Wine Region?

There are different jobs in the wine industry. Ranging from those who look after the grapes to those who make the wine. There are also plenty of hospitality jobs in the industry, particularly in the winery restaurants or if they have accommodation available. Jobs can be found by asking at the winery or on websites such as Wine Industry Jobs and on the big employment sites such as Seek and Indeed.