Australian and New Zealand wineries to discover this March

New South Wales

Charteris – Hunter Valley, NSW

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Owners Peter James (PJ) Charteris and partner Christina Pattison met at Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley in 1999. PJ was the chief executive winemaker at Brokenwood, and Christina was the marketing manager. Together they have over three decades of experience. For NZ-born PJ, finding a top pinot noir site in Central Otago was a spiritual homecoming (they claim to have searched both Australia and NZ for the right combination of site and variety). – James Halliday

5 ★ winery | charteriswines.com | Halliday Profile

Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard – Hunter Valley NSW

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Established in 1981, Krinklewood is a certified organic and biodynamic winery in the Hunter Valley, harmonising with the rhythms of the cosmos and achieving full certification in 2007. Nestled between the Brokenback Range and Wollombi Brook, its French-inspired, dog-friendly cellar door is surrounded by Provencal gardens, sunlit courtyards, and roaming peacocks. In 2020, Oscar Martin became custodian, guiding Krinklewood’s evolution with a sustainable masterplan by architect Peter Stutchbury, including eco-accommodation and a bathhouse. More than a winery, Krinklewood is a retreat – offering award-winning wines, a stunning wedding venue, and a sanctuary for nature, creativity and connection.

4 ★ winery | krinklewood.com | Halliday profile

Leogate Estate – Hunter Valley, NSW

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Bill and Vicki Widin purchased the substantial 1960s-planted Brokenback vineyard in 2009 – the original 50-hectare comprising semillon, chardonnay and shiraz. By 2013, they’d built a winery and cellar door followed by a suite of 20 luxury villas in 2022. Over time, they’ve added verdelho, pinot gris, gewürztraminer and tempranillo to the original vineyard. In 2016, Leogate purchased a 61-hectare certified organic vineyard at Gulgong (Mudgee) planted to shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. And lastly, Leogate acquired the Black Cluster vineyard in 2020. It’s predominantly planted to old-vine shiraz, with some semillon in tow. – Halliday Team 

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

Saddler’s Creek – Hunter Valley, NSW

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Saddler’s Creek is a boutique winery that is little known outside the Hunter Valley, but has built a loyal following of dedicated supporters. It came onto the scene over 30 years ago with some rich, bold wines, and maintains this style today. Fruit is sourced from the Hunter Valley and Langhorne Creek, with occasional forays into other premium regions. – James Halliday.

4.5 ★ winery | saddlerscreek.com | Halliday profile

Victoria

Fowles Wine – Strathbogie Ranges, VIC

Nestled in the heart of the Strathbogie Ranges in Central Victoria, Fowles Wine – the home of Ladies who Shoot their Lunch wines – thrives in a cool, high-altitude setting where ancient granite boulders pepper the landscape. Embodying a deep respect for the environment, a simple premise guides its future: to “Farm in nature’s image” by harnessing the land’s ecology to create resilient systems that yield quality in abundance. They farm, hunt, prepare and share culinary adventures – experiencing flavours from the source. The cellar door and restaurant, open seven days a week, are located on the Hume freeway in Avenel just 90 minutes north of Melbourne.

Handpicked Wines – Various Locations

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Handpicked® Wines is an independent Australian winery crafting top-quality wines that offer a true sense of place. The Mornington Peninsula is home to the winery and flagship vineyard Capella, but winemaking spreads to fully-owned estates in Tasmania, Yarra Valley and Barossa. Pioneers in organic farming and sustainable grapegrowing, the Mornington and Tamar Valley sites are the first and only to hold both organic and sustainable certifications in the states of Victoria and Tasmania. Carrying a remarkable trophy and accolade tally, Handpicked® Wines has held a Halliday Wine Companion 5-red-star winery rating since 2014. Urban cellar doors in Sydney and Melbourne – bookings recommended, walk-ins welcome.

5 ★ winery | handpickedwines.com.au | Halliday Profile

Marnong Estate – Sunbury, VIC

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Marnong Estate is an expansive property overlooking the Macedon Ranges, found just 35 minutes north of Melbourne. The 480-hectare working farm and vineyard, which – aside from the restored 19th Century homestead – boasts modern facilities including a cellar door as well as a range of wedding and function venues, restaurants and accommodation. Vines were first planted in 2016, following advice from Wine Network Consulting. Then, in 2024, Alex Beckett (ex-Briar Ridge) took over winemaking in its new state of the art winery. Featuring 34 hectares under vine and a strong emphasis on site-specific chardonnay and pinot noir, Marnong also produces a small range of other varieties including fiano, shiraz, sangiovese and montepulciano.

Paramoor – Macedon Ranges, VIC

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Paramoor Winery, nestled at 550 meters on Mount Macedon, is a hidden jewel, thriving in a cool climate that nurtures the slow ripening of its 20-year-old pinot noir, riesling, and pinot gris vines. This environment, while advantageous for fruit development, introduces challenges with potential early spring and late autumn frosts. Nonetheless, the winery’s minimal intervention philosophy and unwavering commitment to quality ultimately results in wines characterised by elegance and intensity – truly embodying the terroir’s unique traits. Paramoor is set on 17 hectares of beautiful country land not far from Hanging Rock and was initially a Clydesdale horse farm with a magnificent heritage-style barn – now used for cellar door sales and functions.

 www.paramoor.com.au | Halliday Profile

South Australia

Cooper Burns – Barossa Valley, SA

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Cooper Burns began as a side project of Mark Cooper and Russell Burns as they worked their winemaking day jobs at Treasury Wine Estates and Torbreck respectively. In 2017, they established their winery at Nuriootpa, and Russell left Torbreck to work full-time at Cooper Burns. The old homestead garage was renovated in 2019 and now serves as the cellar door within the grounds of the winery. Wines produced are shiraz, grenache, GSM, cabernet sauvignon, rosé, riesling and chardonnay. – James Halliday

Esilio – Mount Lofty Ranges Zone, SA

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Nestled in the Mount Lofty Ranges GI between the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley, Esilio is the nascent wine label of ex-Rolf Binder winemaker Harry Mantzarapis. It’s a smartly packaged, snappy little range of wines that includes sparkling, moscato and a selection of white and red varieties that are well-known and loved in this part of South Australia. There’s also a ‘bookings by appointment’ cellar door and restaurant up there in the hills at Esilio, which sounds like a perfect place to visit while you are touring the region. – Dave Brookes

esiliowines.com | Halliday Profile

HEAD Wines – Barossa Valley, SA

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Inspired by the wines of the Rhone, HEAD Wines’ drops are elegant interpretations of the Barossa and Eden Valleys, with a clear focus on crafting deliciously balanced wines that age beautifully over time. Based on the ‘micro-negociant’ model of sourcing fruit from established grape growers, Alex Head works closely with the vineyard teams to select parcels of fruit tailored for his definitive style. This approach allows Alex to access fruit that marries to his ethos of crafting food-friendly wines that are delicious, age worthy and great value for the consumer. Energised by the fresher, lighter styles of old-world wines, Alex is always one of the first winemakers to commence picking harvest each year in the Barossa, as he actively seeks a fresher fruit profile.

5 ★ winery | headwines.com.au | Halliday Profile

Irvine Wines – Eden Valley, SA

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If you're looking for a hidden secret and to explore a range of wines crafted from grapes grown throughout the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley GI, Irvine Wines is waiting to welcome you. Run by a fourth-generation vigneron with a legacy dating back to 1867, Irvine Wines is one of the largest privately-owned premium grape growers in the Barossa with nearly 400 acres of vineyard waiting for you to discover.

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 space looking out over the family's Taranga vineyard. Enjoy the cosy private tasting room 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

Pine Drive Vineyards – Barossa Valley, SA

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Pine Drive Vineyards is a fledgling wine label established by Matthew Grayson and Bernadette Stewart, a Queenslander and a Canadian, who met in Qatar and whose mutual love of wine saw them relocate to the Barossa Valley – purchasing a property in between the northern subregions of Moppa and Ebenezer. Their 8.5 hectares of shiraz vines – some planted in 1964 – lie on the famous rolling Moppa sand dunes that Max Schubert was fond of when he crafted the early vintages of Grange Hermitage. This is a young winery, and one to watch. – Dave Brookes

St Hugo – Barossa Valley, SA

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St Hugo is focused on the premium and ultra-premium end of the market, differentiating it from its partner winery and neighbour Jacob’s Creek. There is a restaurant with a kitchen garden, and self-catering accommodation is available in a 19th-century stone cottage. – James Halliday 

Zema Estate – Coonawarra, SA

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Zema Estate is a family-owned winery with a proud Italian heritage, known for producing premium-quality Coonawarra cabernet and shiraz. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience their limited-release Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, or try the beloved Cluny, a cabernet merlot blend. Call into the cellar door for a relaxed complimentary tasting of their current releases, or elevate your visit by booking a private tasting experience. Gourmet platters are also available to enjoy alongside your wine. And before you leave, be sure to pick up Mrs. Zema's famous homemade chilli paste and olive oil.

4 ★ winery | zema.com.au | Halliday Profile

Western Australia

Harvey River Estate – Geographe, WA

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Harvey River Estate has a long and significant tradition of winemaking in WA’s southwest. The Sorgiovanni family have been farming and making wine on the original property since Guiseppe (Joe) arrived from Italy in 1928. The Harvey River Estate label was established in 1999, fruit for these wines is predominantly from the family-owned vineyards in Geographe. – James Halliday

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Judith and Gary Berson have set their sights high. They established their vineyard without irrigation, emulating those of the Margaret River pioneers (including Moss Wood). The fully mature plantings comprise 4.2 hectares of chardonnay and 0.4 hectares of pinot noir; the remainder Bordeaux varieties with cabernet sauvignon (6.5 hectares), cabernet franc (0.5 hectares) and malbec (1.5 hectares). The cellar door overlooks the 20+yo vineyard. Wines are made by Luc Fitzgerald and matured in French oak barriques. – James Halliday

5 ★ winery | victorypointwines.com | Halliday profile 

Tasmania

Bream Creek – Southern Tasmania

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Bream Creek Vineyard was established by Fred Peacock in 1990. A pioneer of the modern Tasmanian wine industry, it produces premium cool-climate Tasmanian wines that are renowned for being both complex and elegant. To date, its wines have been awarded 83 wine show trophies and over 1250 wine show medals. Its 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 very best cellar door views in Tasmania. Refer to their website for current opening hours.

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

Nocton Vineyard is the reincarnation of Nocton Park. The 34 hectares were planted in 1999 and are predominantly planted to pinot noir, chardonnay, merlot, chenin blanc and sauvignon blanc. Wines are released under the labels Nocton Vineyard and Willow Reserve Series. The quality across both labels is very good. – James Halliday

4 ★ winery | noctonwine.com.au | Halliday Profile 

New Zealand

Spy Valley Winery – Marlborough, NZ

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Spy Valley Wines gets its name from the valley housing a satellite communication station, but it is best known for its award-winning, sustainably crafted wines that capture the unique time and place of every harvest. The family-owned estate, hidden in the heart of Marlborough, New Zealand, is home to six varieties of grapes – grown on over 180 hectares of pristine vineyards. Unlike the world of espionage, Spy Valley wine has demanded global attention, where the wine has been called impossible to ignore.

spyvalleywine.co.nz | Halliday profile