Use Sydney Coach Hire to Explore the Best Wineries Here!
Australia is home to a large group of individuals who absolutely love drinking wine, and given the number of wineries across the nation, it’s easy to guess that the winemakers here really enjoy what they do. Sydney provides access to some of the best wine regions in Australia and if you are looking for a day trip to visit a few of these vineyards, you can opt for coach hire in Sydney to score a memorable trip.
About Sydney’s Best Wine Regions
A rustic winery in a picturesque location paired with delectable cuisine is the characteristic appeal that a majority of wine regions in Sydney have. Starting with the vintage Hunter Valley, it is known be the best producer of Semillon, along with brilliant Shiraz and Chardonnay. Other regions include Southern Highlands, Hastings River, Orange Wine, Canberra, and Murray. Let’s take a look at some of the top vineyards which are worth paying a visit, if you are staying in or around Sydney.
Audrey Wilkinson Winery
Situated in the iconic picturesque beauty of the Hunter Valley, the Audrey Wilkinson Winery is located north of Newcastle, a couple of hours’ drive from Sydney. This oldest winery in the region has the most number of cellar doors offering Shiraz, Chardonnay and Semillion, in comparison to other wineries in Australia. Audrey Wilkinson was one of the pioneers after whom this 109-hectare winery was named. Besides the wine, the stunning view on offer by the beautiful Brokenback Tanges is a complete treat for the eyes.
Brokenwood Wines
This vineyard established in 1970 is responsible for one of the Australia’s most premium wine labels and is consistently rated 5 stars by the critics. One can find exquisite variety of wines including the famous Cricket Pitch Range, the highly recommended ILR Reserve Semillon and the popular Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz. A good ambiance, along with friendly staff, makes the winery tour worth a visit.
Scarborough Wine Co
If you are a couple bringing kids along for your wine adventure, you should not miss out on an opportunity to experience a top cellar door up on the hills. While your kids can play outside in the lawn, you can indulge yourself in wine tasting with a wide range of drinks to choose from. Break into the “The obsessive” Chardonnays, and make sure not to forget tasting the Shiraz and Pinot Noir Rose as well. This vineyard is spread across an area of 10 hectare and was founded in 1978 by Ian Scarborough.
Bimbadgen Winery
When you are at the Bimbadgen Estate, you can enjoy a complete package of musical concert, wine tastings and delectable food. Situated high on the hills in the heart of Hunter Valley, this vineyard is hardly a 2-hour’s drive from central Sydney. With its spacious wine tasting rooms and the varieties including Shiraz Viognier, Shiraz, Verdelho, Semillon and Chardonnay, it is known to produce one of the best blends in the region. For an ideal Australian lunch and dinner, the Esca Restaurant serves up savoury cuisine.
Mount Ashby Vineyard Cellar Door
Located in the scenic setting of the southern Highlands, Mount Ashby Vineyard is among the top wine clusters in the region. Surrounded by dairy cattle, the vineyard receives top quality marinated cheese that is available at the cellar door, along with a wide range of wines. You can enjoy the crusty bread with a glass of Merlot, while treating your eyes with the surrounding views.
Bendooley
When it comes to nurturing the best quality of wine, Jonathan Holgate and Ben Brazenor are highly considered the best in the business. One and a half hour’s drive from Sydney, the Bendooley winery is known to possess ideal climatic conditions and diverse soils, smartly put to application by Ben and Jonathan in producing boutique wines, including Riesling, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. You can go for a sample tasting before placing an order at the cellar door, and once you are done with it, you can admire an excellent piece of artwork by John Olsen, who made it using more than a century old radiata pine.
Lerida Estate
Highly recommended for its botrytis Pinot Gris, Shiraz Viognier and Pinot Noir, the Lerida Estate is located in the sub-region of Bungendore and Lake George, and is a short drive away from Sydney. The famous wine critic James Halliday has given this winery a rating of 5 stars, based on the exquisite variety of wines offered at the cellar door, which has been designed by a famous architect, Glenn Murcutt. Don’t be surprised to see many artists hanging out at this place and trying to sketch the landscape which boasts of the heavenly Lake George.
Bago Vineyards
This vineyard is located in the Hastings River Region, and is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. Travelling to this place is itself an adventure, let alone be the wine tasting experience. If you are planning a trip to Port Macquarie, the Bago Vineyards are hardly half an hour’s drive and worth every kilometre that you cover. You can experience the unique rusting setting of the vineyard amid leisure parks and sip a glass of Verdelho and other sparkling wines, along with cheddar. Lose yourself in the surroundings which boast of a scenic eucalyptus forest; home to the largest population of koala in the continent.
Margan Hunter Valley Wine
Located at a distance of around 160 km away from Sydney, Margan was awarded the Best Tourism Winery at the Tourism Awards in 2015, along with numerous accolades for serving top quality of varietal wines across New South Wales. You can opt for sample tasting, while enjoying the expansive views of the vineyard. The Margan Restaurant has got to offer seasonal modern European dinner that is scrumptious, to say the least.
Gartelmann Wines
If there’s any kind of love you can find in the whole of Lovedale, it’s the exquisite selection of boutique wines offered by the Gartelmann Winery. The blue-coloured Merlot brings a complete bliss, while the outstanding Chardonnay brings alive the taste buds. And one cannot simply forget the highly admired Semillon and Shiraz, which actually are the best varieties they produced. You’ll get a feeling of wine tasting in a country house rather than a cellar door, and with appetizing food on offer, you just cannot ask for a better evening.
If you are planning a Sydney wine tour for the very first time, it will be wise to opt for Sydney coach hire to avoid any inconvenience during travelling. The driver will drive you to your vineyard destinations while you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!