With time, wineries have effortlessly blended in the tourism landscape. If you are a wine lover, wine regions in Australia are no lesser than paradise. They are easily accessible, located around the most charismatic country town, spectacularly scenic and of course, have lots and lots of wine. With over 100 different varieties of grapes and 65 designated wine regions, the search for the finest wine will definitely take you down to Australia.
1. Yarra Valley, Victoria
The Yarra Valley region, with its cool climate, is known for its production of sparkling chardonnay, pinot noir, Shiraz, and aromatic cabernet sauvignon. The winemakers in this region are recognized for their revolutionary practices of production. The De Bortoli is one of the largest wine estates of the Yarra Valley region. It is also one of the oldest and specializes in ‘Noble One’ dessert wine. While exploring this estate you get a behind-the-scenes tour of the vineyard and winery, taste maturing wine and enjoy a gourmet cheese and wine meal. Other distinguished wineries in Victoria are Montalto vineyard and olive grove.
2. Margaret River, Western Australia
The wine specialities of the region include Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz, Sauvignon, Semillon, etc. Isolation, excellent vineyard soil and the dedication of the local wineries to produce exceptional wine make this region a must visit destination for the wine enthusiast travellers. Vasse Felix is among the oldest wineries that begin with early experimentation of grape planting in 1965. In addition to the behind-the-scenes tour, wine tasting and food, it allows you to relish the onsite art gallery, gardens, and sculptures. For foodies, the gourmet escape is also a good option in this region.
3. Barossa Valley, South Australia
The history of the Barossa Valley can be traced back to 1842. It is home to one of the oldest wines of the world, some of which are over a century old. The region is renowned for full-bodied Shiraz, full-bodied chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and Eden Valley Riesling. Jacobs Creek is the first commercial vineyard in the Barossa Valley. It offers food with master class wine, tasting workshops and cooking classes. You can cycle through the Barossa Valley and picnic in the vineyard while capturing the gorgeous scenery. Seppeltsfield is also an exciting place in the region for wine lovers.
4. Tasmania
The wine production in Tasmania Island off the coast of Australia was initially discouraged on the ground that the soil is suitable only for apples and pears but later it becomes home to a number of wine varieties like pinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon. Also, sparkling wines are particularly popular all around the Island. Josef Chromy is an award-winning vineyard that guarantees to please you with cool-climate grapes, a lake, a restaurant, and an old English garden. Moorilla is also one of the oldest vineyards in Tasmania to visit.
5. Hunter Valley, New South Wales
The hunter valley region has the oldest vineyards dated back to the 1820s. Established by the father of Australian wine, the hunter valley is known for full-flavoured chardonnay, earthy Shiraz and Semillon and the annual hunter valley wine and food festival. The Audrey Wilkinson is renowned for its handmade wines and on-site museum that displays the original winemaking equipment. It also provides staying facility for the visitors. Other notable wineries in the region are tower estate and hope estate.
