Canberra-region Wineries You Need to Visit
The rural countryside around Canberra is home to more than 33 wineries and 140 vineyards, producing some of the best cool climate wines in the country. Despite the name, all but one of the Canberra-region wineries are actually in NSW. The district covers three subregions;
Murrumbateman and Yass
Bungendore, Wamboin, Lake George and Collector
ACT and Hall
With the majority of winemakers in the region focussing on boutique small-batch production and producing premium quality wines, I’m completely confident you will find a winery (or several!) to suit your tastes.
Most of the region’s 2020 vintage was scuppered, with the vast majority of fruit ruined with smoke-taint from the bushfires. However, there are still large stocks of beautiful wines and previous vintages to try, and supporting these wineries has never been more important to ensure many vintages to come.
The following recommendations come from yours truly - a wine lover and particular fan of unusual and interesting wines. I’ve visited many many wineries in the region, and these are some of my absolute favourites.
THE VINTNER’S DAUGHTER
For premium small-batch wines that are so perfectly made, there is nowhere better than The Vintner’s Daughter. Wife and husband dream team, Stephanie Helm and Benjamin Osborne, are seriously talented winemakers and create some of the very best wines in Canberra. Classic cool climate varieties with the most elegant refinements, these wines are as unique as they are delicious. But with a down-to-earth authenticity that is quite rare when it comes to wine, this vineyard and cellar door is not to be missed.
Pick of the bunch: Gewurztraminer & Shiraz Viognier
COLLECTOR WINES
Collector Wines is superb. Every single wine produced by winemaker Alex McKay is phenomenal. With around a dozen wines on offer at any one time, each one is clean, crisp and impeccable. There are some unusual varieties as well as the region’s classics, but each one is completely perfected for the type of fruit and style. Do yourself a favour, get out to Collector to visit the cellar door.
Pick of the bunch: Tiger Tiger Chardonnay
POACHERS PANTRY
Known for their smoked meats and beautiful restaurant, Poachers Pantry also has some incredible wines under the Poachers Vineyard label. Refined yet complex, these wines are the work of Will Bruce who makes some serious magic on the beautiful land in Hall. Never has there been a better combination than exceptional meats, cheeses and wine – and to find all three in one stunning place – what are you waiting for?!
Pick of the bunch: Poachers Rosé
PANKHURST WINES
Without sounding dramatic, Pankhurst Wines must have the most stunning views of any winery in the country. Overlooking the Brindabellas, Pankhurst Wines match their view with some superb winemaking. Two of the loveliest people you’ll ever meet at a Cellar Door, Allan and Christine Pankhurst, produce high-quality wines in a range of varieties. And because I’m a sucker for a wine dog, special mention to beautiful Abbie who is the perfect cellar door escort!
Pick of the bunch: Adela Sparkling Merlot
MCKELLAR RIDGE WINES
This gorgeous boutique winery produces some stunning premium wines that are very representative of the Canberra cool-climate region. Aside from being two divine humans, husband and wife team John and Marina Sekoranja, make exceptional wine with minimal intervention. Fruity, spicy, crisp wines that are full of flavour. Make sure you visit them if you’re exploring Murrumbateman!
Pick of the bunch: Trio
CLONAKILLA
The oldest vineyard in the region, and arguably the most famous. And for good reason! Particularly well-known for their Shiraz, Clonakilla make some of the most superb wines. They’re quite the production, but still family-owned so have a lovely story behind them. Definitely wines to impress, and well-worth a cellar-door visit.
Pick of the bunch: O’Riada Shiraz
TALLAGANDRA HILL WINERY
Tucked out in Gundaroo, this winery has a delightful selection of great wines, each with their own unique story of the owners’ friends and family. Enjoy a cheese board and tasting while learning about the history of each of the people the wines are named after. Well worth the detour from the standard circuit of Murrumbateman wineries.
Pick of the bunch: The Gundaroo Cabbie (Cabernet Sauvignon)
MOUNT MAJURA VINEYARD
The only winery actually in Canberra, Mount Majura Vineyard is a must-visit on any tour. Being partial to a tempranillo as I am, I’m a fan because there is nowhere that makes a better one. Better yet – they make several! With each wine they produce unique to the exact location it is grown, Mount Majura has an exceptional range of beautiful wine, all produced from fruit grown on site.
Pick of the bunch: Little Dam Tempranillo
