The Best Wine Tasting Tours in Australia

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Why Visit Australia?

Australia is one of the world's great bucket list destinations, a dream holiday spot for young and old alike. The combination of a laid-back lifestyle, cool urban areas, legendary wildlife, outstanding natural beauty and a world-class wine and food scene means that Australia really does offer something for every taste and budget.

From the moment your feet touch the ground in the Land Down Under, visitors are guaranteed the warmest of welcomes (usually accompanied by a cold schooner of beer!) - Aussies are some of the friendliest people in the world, and go out of their way to make your experience a special one. Kick back and soak up the chilled urban vibes in super-cool Melbourne, bustling Sydney or capital city Canberra, before heading into the great outdoors for an adventure or two.

Australia is a wine lover's dream, with 5 significant winemaking regions here creating some truly outstanding vintages. Wine tours in the gorgeous scenery of the Yarra Valley, McLaren Vale or Mornington Peninsula (to name but a very few!) are a must - no trip to Adelaide and Southern Australia is complete without a wine experience in the world-famous Barossa Valley, home to the silky-smooth, seductive Shiraz wines which put Australian wine firmly on the map. With great wine comes great food, and the cuisine here is focused on getting the best from fresh, local produce. City dining is absolutely exceptional, with a mind-blowing range of options, and there are many outstanding restaurants attached to wineries to offer visitors the complete wine and food experience.

When the time comes to burn off a few of those holiday calories, thrill seekers, adrenaline junkies and lovers of the great outdoors are spoilt for choice. This famously outdoorsy nation is a hotspot from all kinds of adventures and activities from skydiving to surfing and hiking to cycling. Take a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dive or snorkel the legendary Great Barrier Reef, take a trek into the outback to watch the sunrise over Uluru (a.k.a. Ayers Rock) or simply seek out a secluded beach,open a chilled bottle of Australian Chardonnay, and relax.

The sheer beauty and friendliness of Australia has to be seen to be believed. Whether you're embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage or a returning friend, your trip to Australia is one that you will be telling your friends and family about for a very long time.

Plan Your Visit

Best Known Grapes

Many parts of Australia are ideally placed for grape growing in terms of climate, and a wide variety of grapes are very successful here. Look out for whites made from Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, whilst the most popular reds include Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvédre, Grenache, Pinot Noir, and the grape for which Australia is arguably most well known - Shiraz (known as Syrah in Europe). However, this list is by no means exhaustive. The dynamic and innovative nature of the Australian wine industry means that you never know when you might stumble upon the most unexpected or exotic of varieties. Don't be surprised to see anything from Marsanne and Rousanne to Sangiovese and Tempranillo appearing on wine labels!

Best time to visit

Australia's position in the Southern Hemisphere means that this is the perfect place for those living on the opposite side of the Equator to escape to for some winter sun. Spring begins around September, with the height of summer around January and February - temperatures at this time can be searingly hot, with highs of up to 40C in some areas. However, even the highest temperatures are manageable if you're by the coast with a cool glass of wine in hand! March and April can be an exciting time for wine lovers to catch the grape harvest, or there is something very special about celebrating Christmas with a BBQ if you decide to travel in December! However, if travelling during Australian summer time isn't an option, don't worry about missing the weather. Even in the depths of an Australian winters, temperatures tend to sit around a comfortable 18 - 24C in most major destinations such as Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

How long to stay

No matter where you are in the world, it's a long haul to reach Aussie shores, and so it's only right that you should make the most of your time Down Under! There is so much to see and do here that visitors are always spoilt for choice. A minimum of two weeks allows visitors to immerse themselves in a particular region or two - for example, base yourself in Melbourne and enjoy some city living before heading out into the country in pursuit of vineyards and wine tastings - but many splash out on epic 3 or 4 week trips, taking in the amazing Gold Coast and several cities during their adventure Down Under.

How to get there

Despite the lengthy travel time, Australia has excellent connections with the UK and all other major international destinations - approximately 1,000 flights operate between the UK and Australia each week! Most big international carriers, including British Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad and Singapore Airlines run routes to Australia, so the flight options are plentiful for all budgets. There is even a 17-hour direct flight between London and Perth! Australia's biggest travel hubs are the airports at Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra and Brisbane, all of which are also well-linked with each other. Wherever your final destination, air travel to Australia is easy and there are plenty of bargain price flights to be found.