Spring is around the corner, which means across Australia’s wine regions, budburst is drawing near. This marks the start of the growing season for grape vines, where new shoots and leaves emerge from the buds and the vines begin their life cycle again, ready for the next vintage of wine grape production.
For those keen to witness the magic of budburst (or perhaps just seeking an excuse for a sneaky trip to wine country) – there are several Luxury Lodges of Australia located in, or near, some of Australia’s best wine regions and wineries, many of which are part of Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia. These wineries offer immersive experiences that take guests ‘beyond the cellar door’, for so much more than a wine tasting.
BAROSSA VALLEY
Closest Luxury Lodge: The Louise
Ultimate Winery Experiences: Yalumba, Seppeltsfield, Jacob’s Creek and St Hugo
The Louise sits in the heart of South Australia’s wine country, and offers a wonderful central base from which to explore the famous Barossa Valley wine region. Seppeltsfield is only a stone’s throw away, offering tours of their Centennial Cellar and the chance to taste a 100-year-old tawny. Nearby, St Hugo takes guests from garden to table, with a chef-led tour of the kitchen garden followed by an intimate lunch with front-row seats of the culinary process. At Yalumba, guests can see how a wine barrel is made at the only winery in the Southern Hemisphere with a fully operational, on-site cooperage. And at Jacob’s Creek, guests can enjoy a picnic in the sunshine or a guided tasting of their special Double Barrel range, aged in whisky barrels.
HUNTER VALLEY
Closest Luxury Lodge: Pretty Beach House
Ultimate Winery Experience: Audrey Wilkinson Wines
Located in the foothills of the scenic Brokenback ranges in the Hunter Valley, 165km north of Sydney, the family-run business produces award-winning Semillon. It is rated a 5-star winery by Australian wine critic and vigneron James Halliday and has been named in the top 10 wineries to visit in Australia by Gourmet Traveller. Audrey Wilkinson offers an array of experiences, from picnics or brunch among the vines to fortified and fromage pairing, and a new pasta making experience with a local Italian cooking school.
TASMANIA
Closest Luxury Lodges: On Board (Hobart) and Saffire Freycinet (East Coast)
Ultimate Winery Experiences: Moorilla, Devil’s Corner, Josef Chromy and House of Arras
When visiting Tasmania for a journey to the South West Wilderness World Heritage Area with On Board or a stay at Saffire Freycinet on the East Coast, a visit to one of the state’s cool-climate wine regions is a must. Nearby to Saffire Freycinet is Devil’s Corner, which offers a sensational wine-matched oyster-shucking experience by Moulting Lagoon, a spectacular wetland which is internationally recognised for its biodiversity. For those taking a road trip to the north of the state, Josef Chromy near Launceston teaches guests the art of sparkling, while a sparkling tasting at House of Arras (which you’ll find in your in-suite minibar at Saffire Freycinet) as part of the wine, wildlife and vineyard tour of their picturesque property is a must. In Hobart itself – where On Board’s expeditions depart and return to – a visit the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) is a rite of passage, as is an experience at the onsite winery Moorilla. As part of Moorilla’s Big Day Out, guests can travel to and from Mona in style in the Posh Pit of the Mona Roma ferry, and enjoy a full day of wining and dining at this iconic Hobart museum.
View all lodges in the Luxury Lodges of Australia collective.
View all experiences within Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia collective.
