7 Of The Best Winery Stays In Australia

A romantic wine retreat just 10 minutes from the beach – does life really get any better than at Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill?  

European-style interiors and a porcelain-white facade open onto manicured gardens, coastal bushland and rows of vines. A cool-climate producer of pinot noir and chardonnay, the vineyard has maintained an ongoing five-star rating in the James Halliday Wine Companion for the past decade.  

Visitors at the cellar door can sample varietals from Lancemore’s Macedon Ranges and Grampians vines and the exclusive Dining Room offers a seasonal set menu highlighting regional produce. Plus, this country home-away-from-home is close to Peninsula Hot Springs and Alba Hot Springs – perfect for a spa ‘n’ sip weekend.  

Best described as a little slice of Tuscany in Australia’s oldest wine-growing region, Château Élan at The Vintage features luxurious accommodations framed by Roman arch facades and topiaries. 100 idyllic acres include a Greg Norman-designed 18-hole golf course and an enormous day spa where you can wash your worries away in outdoor ocean-fed mineral pools and futuristic float tanks, or book a cleansing treatment infused with Italian and native botanicals.  

Easy access to nearby winemakers like McLeish Estate, Brokenwood and Mount Pleasant makes choosing a tasting tour of the region’s signature semillon and shiraz a no-brainer. Return at sunset for dinner at al fresco Spike Bar or Legends Restaurant, whose indulgent menu includes gin-cured Tasmanian salmon, Mooloolaba king prawns in black garlic broth and Alpine Farm venison with dark cherry and chocolate sauce.  

Grape varieties from the Yarra Valley to the Bellarine Peninsula give Mt Duneed Estate an 18-strong list of bottlings – one of the most extensive, to be sure. Choose to dine in the rustic romance between vats and barrels of upcoming releases at The Barrel Hall. Or cosy up at one of the Garden Bar’s outdoor picnic tables, just a stone’s throw from the estate’s own olive grove.  

Discreet in their minimal design, each of the eight standalone ‘pod’ rooms onsite offers a private deck with an outdoor bath and vineyard views. If you manage to book in during one of the estate’s summer concerts – featuring major acts ranging from Leon Bridges to Fatboy Slim – you’re in for a true treat.  

While sometimes overshadowed by the mainland, Tasmanian producers like Iron Creek Bay Estate cultivate sensational cold-climate varietals, such as riesling and pinot noir.   

An easy escape from Hobart, its Nordic-style pavilion rooms look out across Iron Creek Bay and Mount Wellington; a sea of apricot, cherry and apple orchards; or lush paddocks of peacocks, ponies and a whole petting zoo-worth of farm animals. 

During your stay, pick your own complimentary basket of whatever fruit happens to be in season, including pears and plums. Then wander the estate’s 5km of marked paths for a chance to spot adorable echidnas and pademelons and grab a meal in the Orani dining room, where you can taste seasonal Tassie produce and seafood.  

The newest member of the Australian Bespoke Collective (of Mounty Lofty House and The Reef House Adults Retreat) could be said to eclipse all other offerings in the over 18 ultra lux lodging category. Sequoia Lodge’s uber-exclusive 30 acres include three 170-year-old redwoods, two spring-fed hot pools and just 14 contemporary suites, furnished with high-rise sandstone fireplaces, sumptuous decor in shades of honey and chartreuse and panoramic views over Piccadilly Valley.  

The private property also shares access to Mount Lofty House’s triple chef-hatted degustation restaurant, Hardy’s Verandah; the Gatekeeper’s Day Spa cottage and South Australia’s two highest altitude – and oldest – vineyards, which produce a traditional method sparkling made from pinot noir and chardonnay.  

For something low-key, why not try an off-grid escape in the heart of the Barossa Valley? CABN X Seppeltsfield’s four elevated eco-cabins share space with the Seppeltsfield Winery – producer of an award-winning grenache rose and the world’s only unbroken lineage of single vintage tawny, dating back to 1878.  

Each sleek container home has a fully equipped kitchen, an indoor gas fireplace to keep the king bedroom moody and your very own cedar sauna, just beyond a grand standalone bathtub in the ensuite. Enjoy your morning cuppa on the patio with a view of the vines and bushland. Then cross the street for a long lunch of progressive regional dining at Fino and a tour of its historic Centennial Cellar.  

Set on the curves of the Goulburn River, Mitchelton Estate is best known for its shiraz, riesling and Rhône blends – and its iconic modernist tower, designed by influential Australian architect Robin Boyd. What you might not know is that the 280-acre vineyard also houses a prestigious boutique hotel of MGallery by Sofitel pedigree.  

Alongside Sofitel’s signature French sophistication is a sizeable modern gallery of Indigenous art, a 20-metre infinity pool and a Halliday five-star cellar door with 360-degree panoramic views. To round things out, both The Muse Restaurant and Provedore Cafe serve modern farmhouse cuisine that highlights the estate’s own riches – including wild blackberries and black walnuts – as well as produce from the surrounding lakes district.