Twelve great Australian wineries to discover this March

These 12 wineries from regions including the Barossa Valley, Gundagai, Pyrenees, Coonawarra and more offer a range of unique wine experiences, including masterclasses, barrel tastings and vineyard tours. Learn more about each producer and discover which wineries to visit next.

Or, if you can't make the trip, click through to the winery websites below to shop their latest wines and enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

Attwoods Wines, Macedon Ranges

Australian-born and educated winemaker and owner Troy Walsh began his journey into wine as a sommelier in London for 12 years (1990–2002), working his way up to some of the most exalted restaurants. In ’10 he began following the Flying Winemaker path of vintages in Australia and France each year. He also quickly ran his colours up the mast by focusing on pinot noir and chardonnay in Burgundy and Geelong. The wineries he worked with here and in France all used whole-bunch fermentation as a significant part of the vinification process, and he uses the practice to a greater or lesser degree in most of his wines. Initially, all of the grapes were contract-grown, but in ’10 Troy and wife Jane purchased an 18ha high altitude property in Glenlyon, 20km south of Ballarat, establishing a 2.5ha vineyard – ultra-high density (1m x 1.2m spacing) planting of pinot noir (MV6, 777 and Pommard) and of chardonnay to quartz, basalt and clay soils. Attwoods also leases a 27yo vineyard at Garibaldi planted to 0.5ha each of pinot noir and chardonnay. – James Halliday

attwoodswines.com.au | Halliday profile

Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley

Bimbadgen’s Palmers Lane Vineyard was planted in 1968 and the McDonalds Road Vineyard shortly thereafter. Both sites provide old-vine semillon, shiraz and chardonnay, with tempranillo a more recent addition. Since assuming ownership in ’97, the Lee family has applied the same level of care and attention to cultivating Bimbadgen as they have to other properties in their portfolio. The small but impressive production is consumed largely by the owner’s luxury hotel assets, with limited quantities available in the Sydney market. – James Halliday

bimbadgen.com.au | Halliday profile

Briar Ridge Vineyard, Hunter Valley

Semillon and shiraz have been consistent performers here. Underlying the suitability of these varieties to the region, Briar Ridge has been a model of stability, and has the comfort of substantial estate vineyards from which it is able to select the best grapes. It hasn't hesitated to venture into other regions, either. Andrew Duff took over winemaking duties from Alex Beckett in '23 and has his sights set on exploring varieties suitable for the site, with a holistic approach to farming at the core. – James Halliday

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

Clarendon Hills, McLaren Vale

Age and experience, it would seem, have mellowed Roman Bratasiuk – and the style of his wines. Once formidable and often rustic, they are now far more sculpted and smooth. Roman purchased a 160ha property high in the hill country of Clarendon at an altitude close to that of the Adelaide Hills. Here he established a vineyard with single-stake trellising similar to that used on the steep slopes of Germany and Austria; it produces the Domaine Clarendon Syrah. Sons Adam and Alex have joined their father in the business – Adam in the winery, Alex managing the future direction of Clarendon Hills. – James Halliday

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

Domaine Naturaliste, Margaret River

Bruce Dukes is wholly talented, and while he makes high-quality acclaimed wines for his own estate – Domaine Naturaliste – he also does this for a raft of other, smaller producers in Margaret River and Geographe. His winemaking style is one of fresh, pure fruit over obvious or intrusive winemaking artefact, and the wines routinely possess a polish and eminent drinkability. Bruce holds both a degree in agronomy from the University of WA and a master's degree in viticulture and agronomy from the University of California (Davis) and has been in Margaret River since '00. – Erin Larkin

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

Home Hill, Southern Tasmania 

Terry and Rosemary Bennett planted their 1st 0.5ha of vines in '94 on gentle slopes in the beautiful Huon Valley. The plantings have gradually been increased to 10.2ha, including pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot gris and sylvaner. Home Hill has had great success with its exemplary pinot noirs, consistent multi-trophy and gold medal winners in the ultra-competitive Tasmanian Wine Show. Impressive enough but pales into insignificance in the wake of winning the Jimmy Watson Trophy at the Melbourne Wine Awards ’15. – James Halliday

4.5 ★ winery | homehillwines.com.au | Halliday profile

John Duval Wines, Barossa Valley

John Duval is an internationally recognised winemaker, having been the custodian of Penfolds Grange during his role as chief red winemaker from '86–02. He established his eponymous brand in '03 after almost 30 years with Penfolds and provides consultancy services to clients all over the world. While his main focus is on old-vine shiraz, he has extended his portfolio with other Rhône varieties. John was joined in the winery by son Tim in ’16. Wines can be tasted at Artisans of the Barossa. – James Halliday  

5 ★ winery | johnduvalwines.com | Halliday profile

Lisa McGuigan Wines, Hunter Valley

Lisa McGuigan is a 4th-generation member of a famous Hunter Valley winemaking dynasty, started many decades ago by Perc McGuigan and more recently led by Brian McGuigan. In ‘99, Lisa started Tempus Two from her garage, and under the McGuigan-Simeon (now Australian Vintage) umbrella, the volume rose to 250 000 dozen before she left in '07 to start a retail wine business. In ’10 she turned full circle, starting her own business in the Hunter Valley and using the winemaking skills of Liz Silkman, whom she had headhunted for Tempus Two, and who is now also chief winemaker at First Creek Wines. Located within the Blaxland’s complex on Broke Road, the VAMP venue and wine room brings together wine, oysters, art and fashion. – James Halliday 

lisamcguiganwines.com | Halliday profile

Nick Spencer Wines, Gundagai

No winemaker’s career starts newborn with receiving a degree in oenology at the University of Adelaide. The desire to make wine comes well before the inception to the studies. Some string the process out, others don’t even undertake the process. Nick Spencer didn’t procrastinate. In the early years, he worked for Rosemount Estate, Coldstream Hills, Madew Wines and Tertini. He won the biggest wine show trophy in 2009: the Jimmy Watson; in ’11 he was a Len Evans Tutorial scholar and in ’14 was a finalist in the Young Gun of Wine and a finalist in the Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year. He has travelled extensively through France, NZ and California, and in ’14 made wine in Khakheti in Georgia. Having led the team at Eden Road for 7 years, he finally moved to establish his own business in ’17. His 2 regions of interest are Tumbarumba and Gundagai – adjoining but very different. The quality of his wines from Gundagai make him the captain of that ship. – James Halliday

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

Riversdale Estate, Southern Tasmania

Ian Roberts purchased the Riversdale property in '80 while a university student. The unique feature of the property is its frontage to the Pittwater waterfront, which acts as a buffer against frost and also moderates the climate during the ripening phase. It is a large property with 37ha of vines and one of the largest olive groves in Tasmania. The estate also includes luxury French Provincial-style cottages overlooking the vines, a French bistro, an orangery (where high tea is served) and a cellar door. Wine quality is consistently good and can be outstanding. – James Halliday 

4.5 ★ winery | riversdaleestate.com.au | Halliday profile

Taltarni, Pyrenees

The Goelet family, founders of Clos du Val (Napa Valley), and Clover Hill (see separate entry), purchased Taltarni in ’72, concluding an ambitious search for their 1st Australian site. Taltarni is the larger of the 2 Australian ventures, its estate vineyards of great value and underpinning the substantial annual production. Insectariums are established in permanent vegetation corridors, each containing around 2000 native plants that provide a pollen and nectar source for the beneficial insects, reducing the need for chemicals and other controls of the vineyards. In late '24, Taltarni and Clover Hill were acquired by Fogarty Wine Group. – James Halliday

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

Zema Estate, Coonawarra

The Zema family have always hand pruned this vineyard set in the heart of Coonawarra’s terra rossa soil. Winemaking practices are straightforward; if ever there was an example of great wines being made in the vineyard, this is it. – James Halliday 

4.5 ★ winery | zema.com.au | Halliday profile