Looking for a new winery to visit, or wanting to add to your list of producers to purchase from? Below are 12 wonderful Australian wineries to get to know from regions including McLaren Vale, the Barossa Valley, the Hunter Valley, Tasmania, Coonawarra and Geelong.
If you can't make a trip to the cellar doors themselves, click through to the winery websites below to shop their latest wines and enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
Beresford, McLaren Vale
Beresford Estate, founded in 1985 by Rob Dundon, is a family-owned winery located in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. Our estate vineyards feature classic varieties such as old-vine grenache, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, alongside Mediterranean plantings like fiano, grillo and pecorino. Under head winemaker Natalie Cleghorn, the focus of Beresford Wines is on producing expressive, site-driven wines that reflect McLaren Vale’s terroir, balancing innovation with a modern Australian wine style. – Beresford
4 ★ winery | beresfordestate.com.au | Halliday profile
Biscay Road, Barossa Valley
The story of Biscay Road began generations before the brand itself, with the pioneering work of Alan Robb Hickinbotham – a chemist, agricultural scientist, educator and wine researcher, whose contributions helped shape the modern Australian wine industry. In 1936, he established Australia's first formal university winemaking course, laying the foundation for generations of winemakers. Today, his vision is carried forward by his great-grandson, fourth-generation vigneron, owner and custodian Alan Hickinbotham. Together with acclaimed winemaker Dan Graham, Biscay Road crafts wines that honour this heritage while expressing the distinctive character of the Barossa. – Biscay Road
4 ★ winery | biscayroad.com.au | Halliday profile
Brokenwood, Hunter Valley
You don’t become one of Australia’s most celebrated wineries without good reason. Since it was founded by James Halliday AM (and John Beeston and Tony Albert) in ’70, Brokenwood has been known for its remarkable ability to produce high-quality wines at almost every price point, from the wildly popular Hunter Valley Semillon to the limited and legendary ILR Reserve Semillon and Graveyard Shiraz. Site selection is paramount and, in the decades gone, they have extended their reach beyond the perimeters of the Hunter, identifying exceptional sites in Orange, Central Ranges and as far as McLaren Vale and Beechworth. In ’12, Iain Riggs stepped down after 38 vintages at the winemaking helm, passing the baton to Stuart Hordern. Kate Sturgess joined as assistant winemaker in ’15. Brokenwood was the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year. – Katrina Butler, Halliday Wine Companion.
5 ★ winery | brokenwood.com.au | Halliday profile
First Drop Wines, Barossa Valley
First Drop Wines has built a reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting and contemporary wine brands, crafting wines that are vibrant, expressive and unapologetically drinkable. As a Halliday Wine Companion 5-star winery, we combine old-world wine heritage with a modern Australian outlook, sourcing outstanding fruit from the Barossa, Eden Valley, Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale. At the heart of the brand is the 'Home of the Brave' cellar door in the Barossa – a relaxed and eclectic destination where award-winning wines, delicious tapas and genuine hospitality come together. Housed in a character-filled former distillery, it’s a place to discover great wine, great food and the adventurous spirit that has defined First Drop for over two decades. – First Drop Wines
5 ★ winery | firstdropwines.com | Halliday profile
Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard, Hunter Valley
Krinklewood Estate is one of the Hunter Valley’s most distinctive wine destinations, where certified organic and biodynamic viticulture meets immersive hospitality. Established in 1981 and inspired by the French countryside, the estate is home to award-winning wines, a celebrated restaurant, luxury accommodation and enchanting gardens filled with peacocks, ducks and roaming wildlife. Our organic and biodynamic philosophy influences everything from the vineyard to the guest experience. Visitors can explore the vineyard, enjoy long lunches at Cézan Trattoria & Bar, stay among the vines and discover wines that express the unique character of our remarkable biodynamic estate. – Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard
4.5 ★ winery | krinklewood.com | Halliday profile
Leogate Estate Wines, Hunter Valley
Bill and Vicki Widin purchased the substantial 1960s-Brokenback vineyard (planted by Len Evans) in ’07, the original 50ha comprising semillon, chardonnay and shiraz. By ’13, we'd built a winery and cellar door; a suite of 20 luxury villas was built in ’22. Over time, we have added verdelho, pinot gris, gewürztraminer and tempranillo to the original vineyard. With the departure of our highly regarded senior winemaker Mark Woods in 2024, Leogate has entered an exciting new stage, with winemaking now being overseen by second generation Hunter winemaker Vivien Brown-Thomas. – Leogate Estate Wines
5 ★ winery | leogate.com.au | Halliday profile
Mayfield Estate, Tasmania
Located in Little Swanport on Tasmania's stunning East Coast, Mayfield Estate is a family-owned vineyard proudly operated by the Dunbabin family. Originally established as a Merino sheep farm, the property remains a working farm with more than 10,000 Merino sheep grazing alongside the vineyards. Specialising in premium cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot gris and traditional method sparkling wines, Mayfield combines exceptional estate-grown fruit with the expertise of acclaimed Tasmanian winemakers Peter Dredge, Jacqui Dolan and Anna Pooley. Visitors can enjoy guided tastings, wood-fired pizzas and warm country hospitality while taking in sweeping ocean views across Tasmania's beautiful East Coast. – Mayfield Estate
mayfieldestatetas.com.au | Halliday profile
Mewstone Wines, Tasmania
Brothers Matthew and Jonathan (Jonny) Hughes established Mewstone Vineyard on the banks of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel in the tiny hamlet of Flowerpot in '11. The vineyard is planted on a former cherry orchard, the original 2ha since expanded to 5.2ha consisting mainly of pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay. Jonny is the winemaker in this family venture; he studied winemaking in NZ before working in Langhorne Creek, Central Otago, Mornington Peninsula, Barolo, Hunter Valley and Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Heading home to Tasmania, Jonny worked in various roles within the local wine industry before settling in as the assistant winemaker at Moorilla Estate for 7 years. With the vineyard established to produce the single-site Mewstone wines, the brothers have embarked on a second label, Hughes & Hughes, which focuses on Tasmania as a whole. – James Halliday
5 ★ winery | mewstonewines.com.au | Halliday profile
Parker Estate, Coonawarra
Parker Estate lies at the southern end of Coonawarra on rich terra rossa soils over limestone. Cabernet sauvignon is the dominant variety (17.45ha), with smaller plantings of merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot. Since its founding in 1985, Parker Estate has remained committed to John Parker's vision of crafting exceptional cabernet sauvignon and premium wines that reflect the unique character of southern Coonawarra. – Parker Estate
5 ★ winery | parkercoonawarraestate.com.au | Halliday profile
Saddler's Creek Wines, Hunter Valley
After 10 years of club membership, the Laureti family bought Saddler's Creek in 2015. Our father Alessandro arrived from Italy in the 1950s with a single suitcase, and that heritage shapes the range, from the 95-point 2023 Alessandro Reserve Shiraz to the Single Suitcase Series' emerging Italian varieties: fiano, nebbiolo, nero d'Avola and montepulciano. Winemaker Brett Woodward (who has been with Saddler's Creek for 15 years after working at Mount Pleasant, Brokenwood and Penfolds), along with Young Gun finalist Sam Rumpit, work across noble and alternate varietals from the Hunter Valley, Langhorne Creek and beyond. Taste it all at the cellar door, then stay for an Italian-inspired lunch at Chef Chiero's Mangia. – Saddler's Creek Wines
saddlerscreek.com | Halliday profile
Scotchmans Hill, Geelong
Scotchmans Hill has been a consistent producer of well-made wines under the stewardship of long-standing winemaker Robin Brockett and senior winemaker Marcus Holt. The portfolio includes Cornelius, Scotchmans Hill, Mount Bellarine, Jack & Jill, Swan Bay, and the newest addition, Solé. – James Halliday
5 ★ winery | scotchmans.com.au | Halliday profile
Wirra Wirra Vineyards, McLaren Vale
From our home in McLaren Vale, we have championed the region’s heritage varieties of cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and grenache for more than a century, alongside select cool-climate whites from the Adelaide Hills. Founded in 1894, and revived in 1969 by visionary Greg Trott, our family-owned winery continues the pursuit of regional excellence under chief winemaker Emma Wood, crafting wines that reflect both the character of place and a deep respect for the art of fine wine. – Wirra Wirra Vineyards
5 ★ winery | wirrawirra.com | Halliday profile
This article was produced in partnership with the Halliday Wine Companion gold winery members.
