Category: Winery

Austrian-varietal wines have become the passion and mainstay of vignerons Larry Jacobs and Marc Dobson of Hahndorf Hill Winery in the Adelaide Hills. Their picturesque vineyard is situated at the edge of the German heritage town of Hahndorf, only 30 minutes’ drive up the freeway from Adelaide. This is a magnificent property and meticulously maintained.

Here they have planted and are pioneering Blaufrankisch, Gruner Veltliner, Zweigelt and Saint Laurent, which are grape varieties widely found in Austria and in surrounding European countries but which are relatively unknown in Australia.

“We love working with these grape varieties because they make beautiful, food-friendly wines. They also enable us to offer something different and interesting for Australian wine consumers to try.”

Marc Dobson, Owner of Hahndorf Hill Winery

Hahndorf Hill make four styles of Gruner Veltliner, Austria’s great white grape – a classic, reserve, new-world and dessert style, each appealing to its own niche market. Their classic style has achieved considerable success, having twice been rated by Austrian wine magazines as being the best example of Gruner Veltliner in the world outside of Austria.

Here in Australia two of Hahndorf Hill’s Gruner Veltliner wines were placed on James Halliday’s Top 100 Wines list for 2019.
According to Marc, Gruner Veltliner is accessible and enjoyable with its purity of fruit and minerality and it also has sufficient complexity to spark the interest of any keen wine lover.

During the 2020 vintage, Marc and Larry harvested their first crop of Saint Laurent – an Austrian red grape variety which is the genetic ‘daughter’ of Pinot Noir, sharing some of its characteristics both in the vineyard and in the bottle. Like Pinot Noir, Saint Laurent can be temperamental in the vineyard and in the winery, but the results can be gorgeous when you get it right. Style wise, it’s similar to Pinot Noir but darker in colour and a bit more assertive.

In addition to their Austrian-varietal wines, Hahndorf Hill also produces other cool-climate classics, such as Pinot Grigio, Shiraz and a delicious, dry-style Rosé.

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Firetail wines are not available in any liquor store in Australia. We like that!

The owners, Jessica or Jessica came to Margaret River in 2006 to our property which is planted with vines now 40  years old with the plan to open a small boutique Cellar Door selling wines of exemplary quality.  The wines, since opening have been awarded Gold Medals at Wine Shows and the rate very highly in Halliday’s Australia Cabernet Challenge and the Halliday Wine Companion.  Jessica and Rob manage the viticultural and winemaking practices to create wines that have the characteristics of the region and more specifically our Rosa Glen site and our vines, most especially the Cabernet Sauvignon vines given the unique micro climate influenced by the Southern Ocean and the productive Treeton loam soil.

Jessica was awarded a Masters of Wine Technology and Viticulture at the University of Melbourne and Rob has Certificate in Wine Business Management from Curtin.  The best viticultural services are provided by AHA Viticulture and the wine is made by two winemakers, Bruce Dukes and Peter Stanlake, achieve results through others.  However we hold tight control from the vineyard to the glass of the end product.

The usual inhabitants around the Cellar Door are the resident flock of Guinea Fowl.  Firetail has a desire to reduce the use of chemicals and so the first area of progress was the total avoidance of pesticide use in the vineyard 10 years ago when we started to establish the Guinea Fowl flock.  The wander the property from shortly after sun rise to nearly sunset feeding on the insects and other pests.  There is nothing they like better than an aerial chase of a grasshopper.  

Avoidance of run off especially nutrients is important as we run off to the Chapman Creek that joins the Blackwood River at Warner Glen.  Runoff in winter from the vineyard has been dramatically reduced by not driving the tractor in the vineyard in winter.  Fertiliser is applied at the end of the spring rainfall when the ground is less saturated and has a greater chance of soaking in rather than running off.  

For those technical minded wine enthusiasts who love sustainably wines, here is some more information for you about the Firetail Wines:

The 2015 Firetail Sparkling Chardonnay, made in the traditional method, the primary ferment was partially performed in barrel, the bottled wine spent more than 30 months on lees before being disgorged.  The dosage was extremely low after disgorge, about 3.5 gm/L.   Brioche characters, with crisp citrus and white peach with a persistent fine bead. 

The 2018 Firetail Sauvignon Blanc, made in the style of a Sancerre, partial barrel ferment and batonnage in barrel for six weeks, then transfer to tank to the wine made in tank and further lees stirring for 6 weeks.  A multilayered wine, herbaceous, legumes, citrus and pip fruits with a long lasting palate.  

The 2013 Firetail Semillon, made by partial barrel ferment in new oak followed by full barrel maturation in used oak for several months with batonnage to lees stir.  Recently described as an amazing wine, toasty developments add intrigue to the flavour, texture and balance, gentle citrus and lemon tart flavours.

The 2019 Firetail Rosé, made from fully ripen Merlots grapes, 36 hours on skins to give a rich red colour, fill of fruits aromas with a hint of loganberry, slightly sweet to start but dry at the finish due to the 14% alcohol.  

The 2016 Firetail Cabernet Sauvignon, a pure Cabernet Sauvignon style rarely seen in Australia, exceptional fruit character with gentle use of French Oak, dark berry characters with cherry and hints of chocolate and coffee in an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.1% alcohol.

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World Class Wine Cellar Door in Hunter Valley, NSW

When planning a visit to Hunter Valley, one cellar door you won’t want to miss is the De Iuliis. Pronounced ‘de uli ~ iss’, this upmarket winery was established by the De Iuliis family and operated by Michael De Iuliis.

Originating from Italy the De Iuliis family have made the Hunter region their home since 1960. After a long successful career in the Hunter mining industry, Joss and Anna De Iuliis were inspired to follow their family passion for wine and chose a property in the Lovedale Road region of the Lower Hunter Valley, converting a grazing property into a 20ha vineyard with the first vines planted in 1990. For the first decade they provided fruit for some of the Hunter Valley’s biggest names.

It wasn’t until their son Michael finished his postgraduate studies in Oenology at the world renowned Roseworthy campus (Adelaide University) in 1999 with remarkable results that dynamic of the business changed from grape growing to wine production. A new state of the art winery and a modern airy cellar door was built, designed by architect Lionel Glendenning, and completed just in time for vintage 2001.

Today, De Iuliis wines are known for their trademark Hunter regionality and commitment to showcasing the very best the Hunter Valley has to offer. The Australian Wine Companion by James Halliday has been rating De Iuliis Wines a 5 star winery since 2010. The family’s vision is to continue producing wines of excellence and outstanding quality from individual paddocks, wines of distinction which they are proud to have their name on.

THE WINEMAKER
Michael De Iuliis ‘has lifted the quality of the wines into the highest echelon’ – James Halliday

Michael De Iuliis, well known and well liked Hunter Valley winemaker and wine judge, started off as a Macquarie university Science Graduate and completed post Graduate studies in Oenology at Roseworthy Campus (Adelaide University) in 1999. The year after saw his first complete vintage as a winemaker, using grapes grown on the De Iuliis family vineyard. Since then he has gained a huge reputation for his fresh approach to creating wines truly expressive of his home Hunter region which are considered as some of the best examples coming from the Hunter Valley.

Among many accolades, Michael has been a Len Evans Tutorial Scholar (2004) as well as Finalist at the Young Winemaker of the Year Awards (The Wine Society, 2005). Michael was one of 8 Nominees for the 2013 Gourmet Traveller Wine Winemaker of the Year Award.

Michael has completed the Future Leaders Program (Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, 2009) which led to his further involvement in other areas of the Australian wine industry such as wine show judging and his active part in the Hunter Valley community, promoting the wine region as a whole at numerous events around Australia. His involvement includes the Next Generation Hunter Valley, Pokolbin Reds Rugby team, the Cessnock Council and the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association.

The De Iuliis Cellar Door is the heart of this boutique winery in the beautiful Hunter Valley.

Framed by the iconic Brokenback mountain range, our landmark Cellar Door is spacious and filled with natural light. The floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor deck invite you to soak up Wine Country experience with views of manicured gardens and native fauna including our resident kangaroos. The more adventurous might like to climb our observation tower for breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The team pride ourselves on our tight-knit experienced team of wine enthusiasts who provide a friendly, informative and welcoming atmosphere for you to discover our wines.

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A Premium Boutique Winery

Pretty special view isn’t it! Picardy is one of Australia’s leading premium boutique wine producers, established in 1993 in the Pemberton region of Western Australia. Picardy is owned and operated by Bill, Sandra, and Dan Pannell. Bill and Sandra were pioneers of the Margaret River region, establishing Moss Wood vineyard and winery in 1969. if you didn’t know, Moss Wood went on to be a driving force in establishing Margaret River as one of Australia’s important growing regions.

Great Wines are Made in the Vineyard

Picardy strives to continue this tradition of wine making quality and excellence. Picardy produces Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc wines. All wines bearing the Picardy label are entirely from our single vineyard property in Pemberton. As Bill will tell you “Great wines are made in the vineyard and are only finessed in the winery”. The Pannells believe the wines should be a true expression of the vineyards terroir and potential, rather than winery manipulation.

Cool Climate Handpicked Wine

Picardy is situated in the tranquil region of Pemberton on deep gravelly loamy soils. The region offers high altitude and close proximity to the ocean (for cooling summer breezes), thereby providing ideal conditions for cool climate wine production. In the vineyard, Picardy follows sustainable management practices. All Picardy fruit is estate grown, unirrigated, cane-pruned and handpicked.

Dynamic Father and Son Winemaking Duo

Picardy wines are made by father and son team Bill and Dan Pannell.Dr William Pannell was a doctor before his passion for wine led him to set up one of Margaret Rivers first wineries. Bill is “QBE… qualified by experience” as he has read everything he can get his hands on about wine and is now possibly the longest standing Pinot producer in Australia. Dan Pannell has grown up in the wine industry and completed a Bachelors of Science (Oenology) at The University Of Adelaide. The family work with a close team including John Pollock who has been at Picardy for 15 years.

So when you’re planning your winery tour to Margaret River, be sure to plan for a visit to Picardy in Pemberton. The memories with family and friends will last a lifetime.

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Tasting wines in cellar doors, dining in modern restaurants, golfing, swimming and hiking through the sweeping hills of Main Ridge, Red Hill and Flinders from Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula is an incredible experience. A few miles from the iconic Arthurs Seat chairlift is Myrtaceae Winery.

Established in 1984, Myrtaceae is a vineyard and winery situated in the Main Ridge area on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.  It remains the highest winery on the Peninsula, making it ideal for the production of limited quantities of high quality, cool climate, single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.

The owners, John and Julie Trueman, are passionate Peninsula vintners who grow their grapes, produce their own wines and host Cellar Door visitors every weekend, with tastings conducted in Riedel rolling tasting glasses. The winery is nestled in a small picturesque valley and surrounded by every-growing gardens.

A Rustic Cellar Door Experience
John & Julie Trueman own, manage and produce Myrtaceae – you’ll also find them at Cellar Door each weekend.Julie is responsible for winemaking and continues the quest to learn the intricacies of the grape and how to best let it express itself. When not in the winery she can be found managing the extensive gardens surrounding the property or driving the Art Deco-inspired branding of interior of Myrtaceae.

John is responsible for managing the vineyard and producing the best possible grapes. He is also the driving force behind the property’s Land For Wildlife registration and the regeneration of the headwaters of Main Creek, which begins on the property and flows down the centre of the peninsula to Bushrangers Bay, Cape Schanck.  

Viticulture & Winemaking
Myrtaceae’s vineyard covers 3.5 acres with a combined total of less than 5000 bottles produced per vintage across Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rosé. John & Julie Trueman have always overseen the entire process, from planting through to bottling and aim to create wine reflective of the location and conditions.

The vineyard uses a Scott Henry trellis system, intervention with the vineyard is kept to a minimum and grapes are hand-picked over a series of vintage days in Autumn.The winemaking process too aims to let the fruit show itself, with minimal intervention. All our wine ferments in French Oak, split equally across new, one-year-old and two-years-old oak. Read varietal and vintage notes in our Wine Shop.

History
Established in 1984 by current owners John & Julie Trueman, in the early 1990s Cabernet Sauvignon was planted however the site proved to not be warm enough due to its high elevation.The original vineyard was transformed in the mid 90s by mostly replanting with Pinot Noir and some grafting to Chardonnay. 1998 saw a further new vineyard planted with Chardonnay.The first small vintage of Chardonnay was produced in 2000 and the first Pinot Noir in 2002. The wines have always been made on site, though the winery was not opened until 2004.

Behind the name – it’s pronounced mer – tay – see
Most of the major indigenous tree species of the Hinterland region and the Peninsula belong to the Myrtaceae botanical family. This family comprises, among others, eucalypts, melaleucas and leptospermums. It was a name that cropped up quite regularly when the property was being researched and reclaimed from its tangle of blackberries and other introduced weeds. It stuck. 

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The sandstone buildings shine in the sunlight and in the Autumn, Mudgee is particularly one of the most beautiful country towns. Strike that, one of the great unsung wine districts! And one winemaker who has raised the bar and made magnificent wines is David Lowe from Lowe Wines.

David is a prominent name amongst Australian wine, having been a part of the industry for over 40 years. Learning from some of the greats across the Hunter Valley and France, David returned to Mudgee in 2000 to construct the Lowe winery on his family property ‘Tinja’.

Certified Organic and Biodynamic

Converting to organics in 2003, Lowe Family Wines is certified organic and biodynamic. This way of farming and caring for the land & vines is what David believes allows him to make the best wine possible. The vines are unirrigated and untrellised, allowing the terroir and vintage to shine through in each wine. Produced in small batches to ensure quality, the wines are also low in preservatives. This aim to keep sulphur down, being sensitive to it himself, led to the creation of his Preservative Free Shiraz (PF500). Having been making it for 10 years now, he is considered a market leader for this difficult wine style.

Zinfandel Awards

His icon variety however, is Zinfandel. A Californian variety, David has adapted it to the Mudgee climate to make it his top wine. Winning best Zinfandel at the 2005 and the 2006 International Wine Challenge, it has only been success from there with this variety. More recently his ’09 Zinfandel won Australian Organic Wine of the Year in 2011 and took home the trophy for Best Red Wine in the Mudgee Wine Show.

Lowe Family Wine Co has recently expanded to include The Zin House, Kim Currie’s hatted regional restaurant & food garden, and The Pavilion at Lowe, a custom designed wedding and function marquee.

David and wife Kim form a formidable force of food and wine representing the Mudgee region. Together they aim to keep promoting regionality and sustainability in both wine and food, aided by their guiding principles of quality, authenticity and generosity.

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Duncan’s Ancestral Calling

One of the reasons we all love to travel to wineries and their cellar doors is to explore the unknown, to see unscripted moments of inspiration. Duncan Harris, owner and winemaker of Harris Organic Wines, has created a wonderful experience for travelers to enjoy.

Duncan grew up in Launceston in the Tamar Valley, and came to Perth in 1993, buying the Swan Valley property in 1998. While working full-time, as a mechanical engineer, he spent every spare moment building the dream of a winery in Perth’s Swan Valley.  Duncan’s ancestors first came to Australia in 1788. They were an entrepreneurial lot, with one Francois Girard, owning the Sydney Hotel (1828) and another, Michael Hayes, Australia’s first accountant, operating one of the first illegal distilleries in Australia in 1805.

The Global Journey to Local Organic Wines
Duncan had become intrigued with the world of wine, particularly from the growing of the grapes, the winemaking, maturation and finally the drinking the fruits of his labour.  Duncan travelled extensively. Viewing vineyards in Burgundy, Alsace, and Gigondas in the Rhone Valley while sampling the produce. In 1995, Duncan started winemaking with Perth friends and his winery cellar door opened in 2000. I am sure you’ll agree, being located footsteps from the vineyards, there’s an earthy simplicity that draws you in. In 2002, the new purpose-built cellar door was attached to the old 1933 built grape processing shed and winery. There’s a real sense of history you’ll get when visiting Harris Organic.

Full Organic Certification Wine Awards
After Duncan became a full-time vigneron and winemaker in 2001, it was a proud day when organic certification was obtained in 2006. In 2018, Harris Organic Wines celebrated 20 years of business and something which makes Duncan’s opinion sought after by aspiring organic winemakers.

Duncan believes in sustainability and organic methods as the only way of saving the planet. He believes that wine is made in the vineyard; to let the vineyard tell the story in the wine, allow it to produce wine flavours that give a great sense of place, the soil and the “Swan Valley wine region”. His dryland organic viticulture assists that.

In 2017 and 2018 Duncan became a finalist for the organic farmer of the year award. Every year Duncan enters his wines into the Swan Valley Wine Show. Last year he obtained 5 medals with 6 wines entered. His silver medal rare liqueur muscat was chosen as one of the wines in the top 25 wines of WA in a range of 276 wines. Congrats Duncan and team!

Travelling to Perth for Wine Tastings?
When you are next visiting Perth’s wine region, be sure to visit Harris Organic Wines and do a seated tasting of some of their handcrafted wines including the magnificent Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, Verdelho, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Malbec, and Rose or their range of unique certified organic ports and liqueurs (the only ones made in this world) made from Pedro Ximenez, Muscadelle, Shiraz and Muscat.

A smiling Duncan will greet you and share his stories of how this organic wine became his life’s calling.

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When Gourmet Wine Traveler Magazine awarded Angas Plains Wines Estate Cellar Door as Best Small Cellar Door in Langhorne Creek for 2019, it was recognition of the decades of hard work from Phil and Judy Cross.

Langhorne Creek – The New Destination

Langhorne Creek is less than 1 hour from Adelaide and for people ready to experience an old wine region, a fabulous region to experience new boutique cellar doors. This region produces much of the State’s wines, a fact acknowledged by many of the major wine companies. Being the second largest growing region in South Australia in a good vintage. Now boutique wine producers are making unique wines with the beautiful soft tannins the region is renowned for, available to everyone. So close to Strathalbyn.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Personal Favourite of Phil Cross, Winemaker

If you speak with Phil Cross, Owner of Angas Plains Estate, he’ll tell you “the Cabernet has a beautiful bouquet giving soft berry aromas with a generous soft tannin finish on the palate.” Aging in fine French Oak for a minimum of 12 months the Cabernet shows an elegant integration of fine tannins with hints of chocolate and a soft varietal finish. If you didn’t know, the Langhorne Creek Region is known by red wine lovers for beautiful well rounded red wines. The soft tannin finish exhibited by Angas Plains Estate reds means that many major wine producers source fruit from this area. Peter Douglas as Angas Plains Winemaker has a careful watch and taste of the wines, and together with Phillip & Judy select the wines to ensure consistent quality across the range.

The Angas Plains Estate wines are generally made in small batches (10 tonne) and the red wines ferment in open top vessels over 8 days. They are pressed off skins and filled into French barrels for the Cabernet and a combination of French and American oak barrels for the Shiraz. Each year 25 to 33% of the barrels are replaced to keep the proportion of new oak in the system in balance with the fruit.

Angas Plains Estate Suites  – Heritage Suite – Vineyard Suite
Stay in the century old homestead with your own private access. Just steps away from the working winery and cellar door.

It’s a joy to find a boutique winery with a range of wines that make you feel really pleased that you have found them. Nestled in the vines in the new but old region of Langhorne Creek is Angas Plains Wines. The white and sparkling wines are delicate and crisp while the red wines are known to have solid but beautifully rounded tannins. The wines from Angas Plains are certainly true to these track records with delightful whites (including sparkling), and classic varietal cabernet as well as plum and spice shiraz with just a hint of savouriness.

Plenty of Awards
Angas Plains Estate was awarded 5 stars for 8th year by James Halliday in 2018 Wines Companion!

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Arimia Estate: An Organic Mission

The good people at Arimia Estate in Wilyabrup (Margaret River region) in Western Australia use organic farming principles, operating off the grid, reducing waste, and growing all produce used in their wines and restaurant. Their mission is to leave the land we’ve farmed in a healthier condition than that in which we found it. If we all had that mission, the world would be a better place wouldn’t it?

Farmers First Principle

One of the missions for Cellars.com.au is to celebrate and amplify the story of Australia’s family boutique wineries. Hard working farmers who toil for perfection for our satisfaction of tasting their wine. At Arimia, they are farmers first. The driver here isn’t the wine or food itself but the positive impact they can have on place through the production of these things. The restaurant and cellar door are a celebration of place: from our bottled wine and olive oil to the pork and trout dished up on the deck.

The Arimia Property: Australian Certified Organic

Arimia is a 138 acre property spanning both sides of Quininup Road in the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, just 2km from the Indian Ocean. It is now a sustainably managed and organically certified mixed farm, with 8.4ha of vineyard, 2ha of olive grove, 1,000sqm of vegetable gardens, pigs, sheep and trout. This is the Arimia from which award-winning wines and head chef Evan Hayter’s cutting edge food come. As a result, the fruit, vegetables and animals they farm have more flavour, are healthier, and are a more authentic representation of the land.

Wines Infused by Winds from the Indian Ocean

The Arimia vineyard is primarily based on sandy top soils, over a lateritic clay subsoil, varying in depth from 20cm to in excess of 1m. These soils, and the winds directed up the valley from the Indian Ocean, provide a freshness and brightness of fruit and perfume in the Arimia’s wines, which are framed by great natural acidity. The wind also provides a natural protection against fungal disease and helps with organic management.

Arimia wines are made by Mark Warren at Happs Wines in Dunsborough. A self-confessed ‘chemistry nerd’, Mark is a trained microbiologist and biochemist, and has made wines in the Swan Valley and Margaret River for more than two decades. He has also lectured in Wine Science and Advanced Sensory Evaluation at Curtin University’s Margaret River Campus since 2004 and makes wines under his eponymous ‘Marq’ label.

Our Restaurant & Cellar Door

Having worked in Michelin starred restaurants across Europe, Arimia head chef Evan Hayter serves modern Australian cuisine with some Japanese inflections using seasonal ingredients grown and reared on site. Fiercely dedicated to conscious farming and cooking, Evan’s food is an extension of the Arimia story, and in eating it, you become part of Arimia’s mission to give back to this land that gives so much to us. Wine tastings are conducted by their small and highly knowledgeable team, who can also help diners pair wines from the varied selection with visitors meal. Farmed the same way, Arimia’s wines and food are crafted to be enjoyed together. 

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Divine Intervention
You only need to look at the name Zarephath Wines to know there is an ancient feel to this winery in East Porongurup, in the Great Southern wine region of Western Australia. If you’re religious, you’ll be fascinated to know that the winery was founded in 1994 by a small Benedictine religious community who left in 2013 when the new owners purchased the winery. Under the guidance of Rosie Singer and Ian Barrett-Lennard, the wines from the Great Southern wine region have gained considerable applause.

Award Winning Riesling
Riesling grown the Great Southern wine region and especially at Zarephath Wines has won multiple awards and gained attention as a top quality wine with 95 points by James Halliday. Increasingly, east coast Australian riesling fans are buying up Zarephath’s Riesling. The striking quartz minerality and zesty citrus taste makes the Riesling a perfect compliment for spicy Asian dishes and seafood stews.

Also their 2015 Riesling took out 4 trophies in the WA wine award that year for Best Riesling, White Wine, Best Single Vineyard and Best most distinctive Regional Character. The 2015 and 2016 Pinot Noir won best Pinot Trophy both years.

Excerpt from James Halliday Wine Companion 2020
The Zarephath 2017 Riesling (95 points) tasting notes are ” You can’t ask for much more than this lovely Riesling offers, from nose to tail, from bouqet to aftertaste. It has already started to open up with a precocious display of pink grapefruit, lime and lemon. The finish is long and cleansing, and balance is there.

Locally Sourced Garden Picked Gastronomic Delights
Zarephath Cafe overlooks sweeping views of Zarephath vineyard, and to the hills and valleys of The Porongurup region beyond. It is the perfect destination to enjoy tasting our range of wine and the exquisite menu of our cafe. Using local produce where possible, including dorper lamb and homegrown vegies, Rosie offers a feast for the senses from her country kitchen in the winery tasting room and cafe. Call Rosie on 08 9853 1152, to book a table, Saturday and Sunday 11pm till 4pm.

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Luck Follows the Brave
Born in Mendoza, Argentina, Martin Moran, winemaker at Mordrelle Wines is one of the emerging wine makers around Adelaide Hills. He is continuing his grandfather’s legacy of winemaking in Australia after having experienced vintages in Argentina, USA and Australia.

Love Is First Vintage,
Martin established Mordrelle Wines in 2010 in Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills wine region with his wife Michelle and her parents David and Jane Dreckow. This guy is all about the ❤️! His first vintage Blanc de Blancs was showcased at their wedding. His passion is making premium Blanc de Blancs, cool climate chardonnays and single vineyard red wines using sustainable practices. One of Martin’s Argentinian specialties is making Malbec wine.

A Passion for Family & Friends
When he’s not teaching his young family how the business of winemaking works, he loves playing piano and guitar and cooking Argentinian BBQ’s for friends and visitors. YUM!

Artistic Bottle Labels from Mendoza
Each of the labels from Mordrelle Wines has a hand painted reproduction from the collection of art painted by Martin’s father, José Luis Moran (1938 – 2010). Heralding from Argentina’s wine capital of Mendoza, my father, José Luis painted thousands of watercolours and oils in his lifetime.

His artworks are proudly displayed on Mordrelle Wines labels to honour his memory. Martin Moran, Winemaker.

Traveling to Adelaide Hills for Wine Tastings?
So when next visiting the Adelaide Hills wine district, be sure to visit the Mordrelle Wines family winery and taste some of their handcrafted wines including the magnificent Sparkling Blanc de Blancs and Apple Ciders; Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc; Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Barbera, Tempranillo, and Rose.

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Beechworth in Victoria is a magnificent town. Rich in history dating back to the 1850s Victorian Gold Rush. The imposing sandstone architecture and wide streets make an indelible ink and lasting memories for visitors. Yet as we know, the hidden nuggets for travelers are often found just between the towns we travel. The unexpected finds down the road that await the curious ones.

 

Travel back to the Old World
Just a short 6.5 km drive from the Beechworth post office (whose tower rises in the above picture), you’ll find yourself thinking you’re driving along the roads in Tuscany! You might actually think you have been transported back in time as winemaker Vinny Webb and his wife Sharon follow Old World principles, minimal intervention, wild ferments, and time underground, to truly support Beechworth’s envious reputation for high quality artisan wines.

A Cellar Door Experience to Remember
Organise some time to visit wine maker Vinny Webb, and his wife Sharon to enjoy a truly personal and unique wine tasting experience. A planned visit can include all or some of this journey, including underground barrel tastings and sharing a local platter of Everton olives, Milawa cheese and Italian- style Beechworth salami in a wonderful purpose built old Gold fields building, with a few modern climate control conveniences.

Discover the History of Baarmutha Wines
Enjoy the stories of Vinny and Sharon’s journey in building Baarmutha Wines included every facet of pouring fine wine into glass, from the Oenology and Viticultural studies at CSU, to the variety and clone selection, planting and establishing of our small low yielding vineyards, hand weeding, mulching, nurturing to hand selecting the fruit at harvest with family and friends.

How the Baarmutha Salami is Made
Enjoy this video made by Vinny’s son. It’s amazing!

White Glove Valet to Vineyard Service
For wine tastings, Vinny and Sharon will organise to pick you up and return you to your Beechworth hotel. Really? Yes indeed! The cost is $90 for (per couple) as it lasts for an hour and includes a current release bottle and the platter. Gotta love that! And you must try the home made Salami. It’s the local secret yet we’re happy to share it with you! Vinny and Sharon very much like to meet and greet fellow foodies and wine lovers, so be sure to phone ahead so that they can organise a time and date that best suits you!

And if you are traveling, just ask Vinny or Sharon to arrange a 6 pack of wines to be sent ahead to your home address. They are beautifully packed and will await you on your return home. #BeechworthNewGold.

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I am sure you’ll agree that Brad and Nicole and the team at Kimbolton Wines have built an amazing visual experience for you to taste world class wine in.

Pop one of Kimboton Wines’ bottles open and enjoy wine the way you want to enjoy it. Taste it with your eyes first, if you like. We’ll top up your glass wherever you roam and have you feeling right at home. And no need to swill, swish, or smell your wine, either.

A Family-Owned, Family-Run Cellar Door

Kimbolton Wines is a family-owned, family-run cellar door offering wine made by people who love drinking our product as much as we enjoy making it.  Bringing together Nicole’s fun spirit with Brad’s unwavering attention to detail, each Kimbolton vintage is the culmination of thoughtful, hard-earned process—one we invite you to explore with us. 

Try a ‘Visual Tasting‘

More importantly, the good people at Kimbolton Wines genuinely want you to enjoy wine as much as they do. No pretense or highbrow stuffiness. Just good wine and good, good people. 

Kimbolton Wines are proud to be the first winery in Australia, perhaps the world, to offer curated ‘visual’ tastings, designed to introduce you to each of our wines and flavour profiles. They’re informative, fun, and beautifully produced. Most importantly, they take out the guesswork and pretending, so that all that’s left to do is enjoy the wine you hold in your hands. 

Relax overlooking the Vineyard

I am sure you’ll agree, Kimbolton Wines offer a sophisticated yet relaxed cellar door to enjoy a hip filled wine tasting session with family and friends. Langhorne Creek is a must do on your next cellar door tasting trip and be sure to put Kimbolton Wines at the top of your bucket list.

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An Elegant Boutique Family Winery

Blewitt Springs Wine Co is a boutique, family winery owned and run by Phil and Nina Tabor. It is situated 40 minutes south of Adelaide in picturesque Blewitt Springs, which is home to some of the oldest vines, has the highest altitude, highest rainfall and coolest winters in the McLaren Vale wine region.  

Certified Organic Vineyard in McLaren Vale

The certified organic Shiraz vineyard sits on ancient sands over clay and silt stone which dates back to 750 million years. As the winemaker, Phil utilises organic practices throughout the vineyard with a philosophy to work with nature, rather than against it to boost the vineyard’s biodiversity. His goal is to create a vineyard which is a self-regulating, natural ecosystem and all his practices are intended to achieve this.

The fruit is chemical free with minimal additives and coupled with the ancient soils the vines grow in, adds to the terroir which influences the quality and taste of our wine. Using minimal water results in lower fruit yields, but the flavours are more intense and fruit quality is far higher.  The working winery produces a portfolio of wines which showcase the high-quality fruit and reflects Mediterranean varieties and styles. Included are an award-winning Shiraz, Grenache and Fortified Shiraz. 

Self Contained 1930s Stone Cottage Deluxe Accommodation

As one of the parcels of land given to the returned soldiers following World War 1, this property is a piece of local history. The original 1930’s stone cottage has been lovingly renovated into luxury self-contained accommodation and offers stunning views across the vineyard and out to the Mt Lofty ranges. This stylish homestead style house which provides original charm and modern amenities. Guests are treated to a beautiful house with gorgeous views and enjoy thoughtful touches and attention to detail throughout.

The purpose-built gazebo is the perfect spot to sit back in comfort, take in the sublime views and sip on a glass or two of the complimentary wine. The stunning views and quiet rural setting allow provides the perfect place for guests to relax and unwind and let their stresses melt away. 

McLaren Vale is less than 10 minutes’ drive away and gateway to a beautiful wine region filled with world class wineries, abundant local produce, diverse culinary experiences and specialist shops.  

The Mural at Blewitt Springs Wine Co.

And before you leave the beautiful country surrounds, be sure to take a photo in front of the mural. I’m sure you agree, it’s pretty hip!

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Rosby Wines is Mudgee’s most exclusive wine label, borne out of a lovingly tended block of 35-year-old cabernet sauvignon and shiraz grapes owned by the Norton-Knight family. Originally planted by vigneron Gerald Norton-Knight, his wife Kay, and their four daughters, the vineyard is closely managed throughout the seasons to facilitate high-quality, low-yield crops of no more than two tonnes an acre.

Wine Tastings at The Hut

This low-impact farming philosophy marries with the Norton-Knights’ personalised approach, with Rosby Premium Wines only available for tastings in their custom- built mud hut overlooking the property. Hand-crafted out of trees felled on site and mud bricks from the family’s dam, The Hut now stands as a beautiful, highly usable testament to the honest, hard-working philosophy underpinning the Rosby brand.

Art Workshop at Rosby Wines

Throughout the year, The Hut becomes a unique space designed to host a series of Art Workshops in an environment that ensure the learning experience is a truly unique and immersive one. Whilst admiring the picturesque vineyard and natural surrounds, they’ll also be treated to a wine tasting with the vigneron followed by a tour of the vines.

Luxury Accommodation overlooking Mudgee Valley

A new addition to the Rosby stable brings similar opportunities to enjoy the picturesque Mudgee valley and its people, in the form of a sprawling luxury Guesthouse. Recently transformed from a family homestead into boutique four-bedroom accommodation, Rosby Guesthouse now offers stylish weekends away for four couples or a group of friends.

Bespoke finishes like hand-sewn cotton linen and soft furnishings, premium bath products, custom breakfast hampers, original artworks in every room, and of course complementary bottles of Rosby wine, make for utterly memorable weekends away.

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About 135 kilometres (say 90 minutes drive) from Melbourne heading north along the Calder Freeway, you’ll find a town called Heathcote. Or as Melbournians know it, the area where big bold Durif red wines come from. The earthy Durif taste is distinctive given the Heathcote region is at elevations between 160 metres and 380 metres. One of the finest Durifs from the region is made by Andreas Greiving, winemaker at Domain Asmara. Watch the video below for a wonderful view of the vineyards.

Hand Made Premium Durif, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon Heathcote Wines

Born in Germany, Andreas is a Chemical Engineer and has worked all over the world. Together with his wife Henni, who is an Indonesia dentist, they created Domaine Asmara after the Indonesian word Asmara, which means love and passion.  Andreas and his team only use garden scissors (known as secateurs) and do not use any machines in the process of making his premium wine.

Bed & Breakfast at Domaine Asmara

Imagine walking the vineyards early in the morning with Andreas, watching how an experienced winemaker works and learning about the winemaking process. Staying at the Domaine Asmara Bed & Breakfast amongst the vineyards, you will enjoy this unique experience followed by a fully cooked country breakfast on the verandah. Find bookings, please contact Domaine Asmara.

 View from Mt Ida lookout in the Heathcote-Graytown National Park

After a lovely visit and tastings at Domaine Asmara’s Cellar Door, before leaving Heathcote, be sure to enjoy the breathtaking view from nearby Mt Ida. The cracking sunsets are amazing with the pink sky over the Heathcote-Graytown National Park.

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Have you ever dreamed of the escaping the city and staying on a vineyard. Well at The Blok Coonawarra winery, you can actually stay at The Winemakers House! And the house sleeps 8 people so bring your friends and enjoy a weekend or better still a long weekend at The Winemakers House at The Blok. Sitting amongst the vines the 3 bedroom house is walking distance to many of the fantastic winery cellar doors of Coonawarra.

Relax in Style and Taste Wines with a Home Cooked Meal

The house boasts a fully equipped kitchen for you and friends to cook up a magnificent meal with fresh produce from local farms, 1.5 bathrooms and a wood fire for the colder months. Visit wineries by day and then enjoy a home cooked dinner that you and friends can prepare together. The house can sleep up to 8 guests so everyone can enjoy quality time together with plenty of space outside to walk around.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Perfect compliment to Local Cheeses

Coonawarra is famous around the world for its “terra rossa” soil that produce world class Cabernet Sauvignon wines. These rich, firmly structured red wines are the perfect compliment to bring out the flavour and texture of locally made cheeses.

Cellar Door Tastings at The Blok Coonawarra

The cellar door is open 10am to 4pm Thursday till Monday. The Blok Coonawarra is open all public holidays except Christmas Day. Wine tasting by appointment outside of these hours please use the contact form or the details below. When visiting The Blok Estate in Coonawarra, you will be greeted warmly by the team and you’ll be sure to enjoy learning all about the Coonawarra from Luke Trotter, owner and winemaker.

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If you’re from interstate and thinking the Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula is “the” wine region in Victoria, then you haven’t heard of Jack Rabbit Vineyard or the magnificent Bellarine Peninsula.  If you’re looking for cool climate excellence (hint: think chardonnay, pinot and shiraz – all regional signatures) you’ve landed in the right place.  You just can’t beat the vibe of Jack Rabbit Vineyard. Located less than a 90 drive from Melbourne and only 30 minutes from Avalon Airport, if you’re planning a trip to Victoria’s wonderful wine regions, Jack Rabbit Vineyard and the gorgeous view of Port Philip Bay from the House of Jack Rabbit Restaurant and the House of Jack Rabbit (Cafe) should be on the top of your travel list!

Dine in Splendor Overlooking Vineyards with Bay Views

The Jack Rabbit Restaurant has world class food coupled with great views overlooking Corio Bay. The perfect setting for that special someone in your life! Travelers from Melbourne can catch the ferry over from the Docklands. For those wishing for a more relaxed scene, the House of Jack Rabbit (Cafe) offers a casual style lunch and dinner menu. Go on, order up the cake and desert wines as you can walk it off around the expansive grass area later. Or even better, sign up for Yoga in the Vines at Jack Rabbit Vineyard. It’s very popular with the locals and the perfect excuse to revisit while you’re visiting the Bellarine Peninsula.

Best Friends Forever Memories Abound

Not too many winery restaurants command a ‘vibe’ like the House Jack Rabbit (Cafe). It’s full tilt for friends who want to relax in style and enjoy the elegance in a bayside atmosphere. Views over the Corio Bay interlaced with casual yet fashionable patrons is the perfect way to snap that Instagram photo and keep the memory of the afternoon with family and friends forever. Put the Rose wine on ice, adjust the sunglasses and kick back to enjoy the Spring and Summer breeze while you toast to good health.

Cellar Door Open 7 Days a Week

Open from 10am – 5pm daily, the Cellar Door and tasting room in the House of Jack Rabbit (Cafe) is very popular with groups of friends. Dine a la carte or else ask the friendly Jack Rabbit team about the Group dining options (which need to be pre-booked) – there are quite a few that will get you jumping for joy!  Guided wine tastings are $5 per person but complementary for those dining.  Bookings are highly recommended, Jack Rabbit is the local hot spot for good reason!

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