13 wineries to visit this winter

New South Wales

Audrey Wilkinson – Hunter Valley, NSW

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Audrey Wilkinson is one of the most historic and beautiful properties in the Hunter Valley, known for its stunning views and pristine vineyards. It was the first vineyard planted in Pokolbin, in 1866. The property was acquired in '04 by the late Brian Agnew and has been owned and operated by his family since. The wines, made predominantly from estate-grown grapes, are released in three tiers: Audrey Wilkinson Series, Winemakers Selection and Reserve. – James Halliday

5 ★ winery | audreywilkinson.com.au | Halliday profile

Victoria

Granite Hills – Macedon Ranges, VIC

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Granite Hills is one of the enduring classics, having pioneered the successful growing of riesling and shiraz in an uncompromisingly cool climate. The vineyard includes riesling, chardonnay, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and pinot noir (the last also used in its sparkling wine). The rieslings age superbly, and the shiraz was the forerunner of the cool-climate school in Australia. – James Halliday

5 ★ winery | granitehills.com.au | Halliday profile

Medhurst – Yarra Valley, VIC

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The wheel has come full circle for Ross and Robyn Wilson. In the course of a very distinguished corporate career, Ross was CEO of Southcorp when it brought the Penfolds, Lindemans and Wynns businesses under its banner. Robyn spent her childhood in the Yarra Valley, her parents living less than a km away from Medhurst. The vineyard is planted to low-yielding sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz vines. The winery focuses on small-batch production and also provides contract winemaking services. Rohan Smith joined the team as head winemaker in '23, bringing with him a verve for precision and deep respect for the site, which is proving to translate well in the bottle. – James Halliday

5 ★ winery | medhurstwines.com.au | Halliday profile

Ros Ritchie Wines – Upper Goulburn, VIC

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Ros Ritchie was winemaker at the Ritchie family’s Delatite winery from '81–06, but moved on to establish her own winery with husband John in ’08 on a vineyard near Mansfield. They became shareholders in Barwite Vineyards in ’12 (planted to chardonnay, pinot noir, riesling, pinot gris and shiraz) and in ’14 established their new winery there. Apart from gewürztraminer (grown at Dead Man’s Hill vineyard), they work with local growers, foremost the Barwite, McFadden, Timbertop and Baxendale vineyards, the last planted by the very experienced viticulturist Jim Baxendale (and wife Ruth) high above the King River Valley. – James Halliday

5 ★ winery | rosritchiewines.com | Halliday profile

Serengale Vineyard – Beechworth, VIC

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Gayle Taylor and Serena Abbinga established their vineyard in '99 at the base of the Victorian Alps in Beechworth, attracted by the ancient granite soils perfect for producing wines of exceptional quality. Using sustainable viticultural practices and low intervention winemaking, they produce chardonnay, pinot gris, shiraz and merlot cabernet wines that express the terroir and the season. Wines are grown and vinified on the estate, each vintage a unique narrative, and the Serengale 2022 Chardonnay exemplifies this beautifully. During a visit to the winery you can join Gayle, the winemaker, for an immersive wine tasting experience. The winery is open by appointment.

4.5 ★ winery | serengalebeechworth.com.au | Halliday profile

South Australia

Chaffey Bros Wine Co – Barossa, SA

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Chaffey Bros is an example of the ‘New Barossa’, what with their funky labels and wines that have an effortless drinkability, an intricate sense of place and a distinct feeling that they approach the winemaking in a hands-off, minimal-intervention kind of style. Eden Valley–born Daniel Chaffey Hartwig established the Chaffey Bros Wine Co in '08, before long joined by brother-in-law Theo Engela and today, the estate produces an excellent range of wines thanks to relationships with some of the Barossa’s most sought-after, multi-generational grapegrowing families and members of the Artisans of the Barossa collective. – Dave Brookes

4.5 ★ winery | chaffeybros.com | Halliday profile

Curtis Family Vineyards – McLaren Vale, SA

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The Curtis family traces its history back to 1499 when Paolo Curtis was appointed by Cardinal de Medici to administer Papal lands in the area around Cervaro (the name Curtis is believed to derive from Curtius, a noble and wealthy Roman Empire family). The family has been growing grapes and making wine in McLaren Vale since '73, having come to Australia in '56.

4 ★ winery | curtisfamilyvineyards.com | Halliday profile

Grounded Cru – McLaren Vale, SA

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Grounded Cru’s home estate is the original Ingoldby vineyard in McLaren Vale. It’s here they grow wonderful old-vine shiraz, grenache and cabernet sauvignon. They also work with other high-quality vineyards in McLaren Vale, the Adelaide Hills and Langhorne Creek for fruit supply. Winemakers Geoff Thompson and Matt Jackman believe these regions "talk to each other" due to their complementary blend of mesoclimates, soil types, rainfall, altitude and varying maritime influences. Grounded Cru's approach prioritises textural intrigue over obvious fruit, melding European styling with Australian generosity.

4.5 ★ winery | groundedcru.com.au | Halliday profile

Irvine – Eden Valley, SA

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The Miles family's winemaking legacy began in 1867 when Henry Winter Miles planted two acres of shiraz in the Barossa Valley. Irvine Wines was established in 1983 by Jim Irvine, who succeeded at putting Australian merlot at the forefront of the world's very best. In 2014, he sold the Irvine label and a small vineyard to the Miles and Wade families. Irvine Wines is one of the largest privately owned premium grape growers in the Barossa with over 160 hectares of premium Barossa and Eden Valley vineyards. Four generations of Miles family expertise ensure the fruit grown is of the highest quality and harvested with precise timing.

4 ★ winery | irvinewines.com.au | Halliday profile

Oliver's Taranga Vineyards – McLaren Vale, SA

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Six generations of stubborn, competitive growers and one equally spirited winemaker – that’s the Oliver family. And family focused warmth and hospitality is what it’s all about at the Oliver’s Taranga cellar door in McLaren Vale, where small-batch, traditional and exciting new varieties are served in their stunning cellar door looking out over the family's Taranga vineyard. Enjoy a cosy private tasting in the original heritage workers’ cottage, take in the glorious all-weather deck that looks straight out to the vineyard, or jump on 'Ollie' the golf buggy for a personal tour of one of Australia's oldest family vineyards.

5 ★ winery | oliverstaranga.com | Halliday profile

Turkey Flat – Barossa Valley, SA

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The establishment date of Turkey Flat is given as 1990 but it might equally have been 1870 (or thereabouts), when the Schulz family purchased the Turkey Flat vineyard. Or even 1847, when the vineyard was first planted to the very old shiraz that still grows there today and the 5.5ha of equally old grenache. Plantings have expanded expeditiously to shiraz (14.5ha), grenache (6.7ha), mataro (4.4ha) and smaller plantings of marsanne, viognier and roussanne. The business is run by sole proprietor Christie Schulz. – James Halliday

5 ★ winery | turkeyflat.com.au | Halliday profile

Western Australia

Twinwoods Estate – Margaret River, WA

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This is a winery that was bound to succeed. It is owned by the Jebsen family, for many years a major player in the importation and distribution of fine wine in Hong Kong, more recently expanded into China. Jebsen invested in a NZ winery, following that with the acquisition of this vineyard in Margaret River in 2005. It brings together senior Jebsen managing director Gavin Jones, and peripatetic winemaker Aldo Bratovic, who began his career decades ago under the tutelage of Brian Croser. Its widespread distribution is interesting, not all the eggs being put in the Hong Kong/China markets. The quality of the wines I (James) have tasted fully lives up to what one would expect. (I tasted the wines without any knowledge of the background of Twinwoods.) Exports to Denmark, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and NZ. – James Halliday

twinwood.bcde.digital | Halliday profile

Tasmania

Bream Creek – TAS

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Bream Creek Vineyard was established by Fred Peacock in 1990. A pioneer of the modern Tasmanian wine industry, they produce premium cool-climate Tasmanian wines that are renowned for being both complex and elegant. To date, their wines have been awarded 83 wine show trophies and over 1250 wine show medals. Their new cellar door opened in July 2023 and features guided tastings, access to cellar door only wines, a choice of locally sourced platters and one of the best cellar door views in Tasmania.

4 ★ winery | breamcreekvineyard.com.au | Halliday profile