Local heroes
Three under-the-radar Australian wine regions to discover this year.
The East Coast Tasmania
Long, sandy beaches, historic villages and abundant farmers’ markets – it’s little wonder that Tasmania’s East Coast is a popular getaway. But there’s another reason to visit: tucked between the coastal bays and the pink granite peaks of the Hazards is a series of small wineries, many family owned, producing stellar cool-climate wines such as pinot noir, aromatic riesling and gewürztraminer.
Clustered around the towns of Swansea and Bicheno – on the way between Launceston and Hobart – is a clutch of wineries, including Devil’s Corner (devils corner.com.au), where the architecturally striking cellar door serves up woodfired pizzas alongside award-winning drops and panoramic views across the vines to Moulting Lagoon. At Spring Vale (springvalewines. com), run by a fifth-generation farming family, a convict-built stable has been transformed into a rustic tasting room where you can try pinot gris, chardonnay and rosé.
Between stops, hike through spectacular Freycinet National Park, discover the charming streetscapes of Swansea, go berry picking or feast on the superb local seafood, including oysters and crayfish. For a short or long stint, settle in sustainable style at Piermont (piermont.com. au), the Mid-century Moderninspired Avalon Coastal Retreat (hotel.qantas.com.au/ avaloncoastalretreat) or at this region’s ultimate indulgent stay, Saffire Freycinet (hotel.qantas. com.au/saffirefreycinet).
The Riverland South Australia
South Australia is home to one of the country’s most prolific wine-growing regions – and it’s not the Barossa, McLaren Vale or Clare Valley. Sitting on the banks of the slow-flowing Murray River halfway between Adelaide and Mildura, the Riverland produces about a quarter of Australia’s annual crush.
Until recently, most grapes grown here were sold to big producers around the country. But growers are increasingly choosing to showcase their local terroir in handcrafted drops made and poured on their home turf. Among the best is family-run
919 Wines (919wines.com.au), which operates on organic and biodynamic principles. Owners Jenny and Eric Semmler are often behind the counter offering tastings of varietals such as vermentino and touriga nacional. Also worth a visit is Banrock
Station (banrockstation.com.au), where the eco-friendly cellar door is set on 1900 hectares of vines and wetlands that serve as a wildlife sanctuary. Lunch by the river is a must at Caudo
Vineyard (caudovineyard.com. au), where you can sample pizzas and sangria or enjoy a barbecue picnic by the shore.
There’s a wide range of accommodation options along the Murray. Wake up in a chic modern retreat with water views at Pike River Luxury Eco Villas (pikeriver.com.au) in Lyrup, the secluded comfort of The
Frames (hotels.qantas.com.au/ theframes) in Paringa or if you’re after a different perspective on the river, hire a houseboat.
The King Valley Victoria
Italian migrants in the 1940s and ’50s first noticed the similarities between the undulating King Valley, nestled beneath the alpine peaks of northern Victoria’s High Country, and the Italian wine region of Piedmont. They took a chance that the Mediterranean varietals they knew and loved would thrive here; they were spot on.
Make Dal Zotto (dalzotto. com.au) your first stop. The pioneers of prosecco, this area’s signature wine, also produce quality pinot bianco and nebbiolo (they even have a sparkling version). Drop in to the onsite trattoria for handmade pasta and seasonal produce grown by the family matriarch, Nonna Elena.
More unusual options are on offer at Chrismont (chrismont. com.au), where you can sip arneis and petit manseng. At Pizzini (pizzini.com.au), try verduzzo, brachetto and barbera and get your hands dirty at the cooking school, A tavola!
Explore the landscape, such as Dandongadale Falls, which plunges 255 metres and is the highest waterfall in Victoria, and the beautifully preserved gold rush town of Beechworth, about an hour’s drive away. Base yourself at Provenance (theprovenance. com.au), the restaurant-withrooms that’s one of Australia’s top regional dining destinations.