Australian wineries: Can I go wine-tasting in Australia?

Wine-tasting in Australia is fun, relaxed and informative. Group or private wine tours take in several Australian wineries, with sampling sessions at each one.

Australian wineries have a justified global reputation. In the last few decades, they have been leading the charge for new world wines against the more established European stalwarts.

Australia may be more famous for its big, bold red wines, but dozens of varietals are grown across the country. And one of the best things to do on an Australian holiday is a day out wine-tasting.

Wine-tasting at Australian wineries

There are thousands of Australian wineries, spread across numerous wine regions in the southern half of the country. The wine-tasting experience varies considerably across them. Some big wineries throw in all manner of gimmicks and special experiences. Smaller ones, meanwhile, may require booking in advance, but the tasting will be an intimate affair.

How much do wine tastings cost in Australia?

Some Australian wineries will offer free tastings, although this is less common since the Covid pandemic. Other Australian wineries charge a small fee for tasting – usually $10 to $15 – to sample a flight of wines. Tasting fees are often refunded upon purchase of a bottle or two.

Wine-tasting in Australia: How does it work?

Generally, you’ll work through a selection of the winery’s offerings – this is often a mix of whites and reds, and of different varietals. The staff will usually give you a bit of information about the wine, and perhaps tasting notes on what to expect. The level of detail and emphasis on education varies, but the common theme is that the experience is friendly and relaxed, never snobbish and formal.

It’s this attitude that makes wine-tasting in Australia such an enjoyable experience. There are no closed shops, and you really don’t have to know anything about wine to have a really good time.

It’s possible to self-drive around the wineries, but you’ll find yourself over the drink-driving limit pretty quickly.

Wine tours to Australian wineries

That’s where wine tours come in. There are hundreds of wine tours in Australia, but they broadly fit into two formats. The first is the group tour, which visits set wineries, possibly with lunch and a stop at a cheese factory or chocolate-maker thrown in. These are easy-going and affordable, but a touch generic.

The second type of Australian wine tour is a private booking. Essentially, you book a car and guide, who sorts out the itinerary for you. These private Australian wine tours are more expensive, although not much more if there are three or four of you. They have the advantage of being able to get into smaller wineries that don’t take the bigger tours. It’s also much easier to personalise the tours according to the group’s tastes. So if you both love big, bold reds, the guide can focus on the wineries that do the best shirazes.

Wine-tasting in the Perth Hills at the Millbrook Winery. Photo courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.

Wine tours from Australian cities

It’s possible to do wine tours with pick-ups and drop-offs in the major cities. Some Australian wine regions are only an hour or so’s drive from the state capitals. These include the Swan Valley near Perth, Yarra Valley near Melbourne, Southern Highlands near Sydney and McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley near Adelaide.

Other wine regions are best tackled while staying there. A day trip from Perth to Margaret River, or Sydney to the Hunter Valley, for example, is a long slog.

More Australian wineries to visit

Australia Travel Questions covers several of Australia’s wineries in more depth. The wineries listed below have individual articles about them. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s growing.