Thinking of going on a wine holiday? Here are four wine regions down under you’ll want to consider once we are able to travel for leisure

With the range of options available Down Under, there’s no need for oenophiles here to fly all the way to Europe or the United States to satisfy their cravings for a sip of vino. After all, wines from Australia are highly regarded the world over. Whether it’s kicking back with a glass of red or meandering through Instagram-worthy vineyards, there are top-class wineries spread throughout the country that allow you to do just that.

MARGARET RIVER

Margaret River is Western Australia’s most famous wine district. While the region produces less than 3% of Australia’s wine, it accounts for more than a fifth of the country’s premium wine. Once compared to the famed Bordeaux region of France, Margaret River today produces some of the world’s finest Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. There are more than 120 wineries you can visit in this region, including Vasse Felix, Leeuwin and Voyager Estate, all of which provide opportunities for wine tastings and wine pairings.

BAROSSA VALLEY
South Australia is home to some of the oldest continuously producing vineyards in the world. It also houses the biggest names in Australian wine, including Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Jacob’s Creek. One of the country’s oldest, Seppeltsfield, is the only winery in the world to release a 100-year-old single vintage wine each year: the Para 100-year-old Vintage Tawny. It conducts a Taste Your Birth Year tour, which allows visitors to sip the Para Vintage Tawny produced during their year of birth — a bucket-list experience for wine connoisseurs, for sure.

HUNTER VALLEY
Hunter Valley is the oldest wine region in Australia. It is home to some of Australia’s most well-known winemaking families, Tulloch and Tyrrell. Tyrrell’s Wines conducts a daily winery tour, which takes visitors behind the scenes of one of the region’s oldest estates and includes premium private tastings. At the historic Audrey Wilkinson winery, you can savour a fantastic range of Semillons at its pretty tasting room; while at Moorebank Vineyard visitors can partake of wine, cheese and chocolate tastings, or picnic on the private grounds.

YARRA VALLEY
Dating back to 1838, the Yarra Valley is Victoria’s oldest wine region. It is highly reputed for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A smorgasbord of experiences awaits oenophiles here. They can visit the French-style cellar door at Dominique Portet Winery, which specialises in sparkling wine and has received glowing reviews for its Fontaine Rosé. Wine lovers can also experience a vineyard and winery tour at De Bortoli — one of Australia’s largest family-owned wine companies — or enjoy a private wine tasting with cheese plates at Yering Station.