Top Wineries to Visit Near Canberra
Producing some of the nation’s most outstanding high-country, cool-climate wines, Canberra has rightfully earned its spot in Lonely Planet’s list of the most revered wine trails in Australasia.
A sip of the region’s stellar rieslings and stunningly complex shiraz's will make you understand why Canberra’s wine regions are on par with the likes of Margaret River and the Hunter Valley. The area is dotted with fantastic cellar doors and vineyards, offering a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere for a full day of wine tastings, all within approximately a 30 minute drive from Avenue Hotel Canberra and the CBD.
If you’re looking to sample the best drops in the country, we’ve sourced 11 wineries to add to your Canberran wine tour!
Four Winds Vineyards
Images via Four Winds Vineyards | The Fabulous Ladies Wine Society
Four Winds Vineyard has all of the ingredients for the perfect day out - woodfired pizza, sunshine and wine. Just a half an hour scenic drive from Avenue Hotel, the vineyard is especially known for its multi-award winning Sangiovese.
The venue is filled with light open spaces and boasts a relaxed, family friendly vibe. If you’re looking for something a little different, they also host events such as pottery and watercolour classes, all paired with wine of course. You can find out more about their events here.
Located at 9 Patemans Lane, Murrumbateman NSW
Open Monday - Friday from 11am-4pm,Saturday - Sunday and public holidays from 11am - 5pm.
More info at fourwindsvineyard.com.au
Clonakilla at Murrumbateman
Images via Gourmet Traveller | Smudge Eats | Wine Selectors
Boasting some of the most enticing cool climate Shiraz in Australia, Clonakilla at Murrumbateman offers one of the best wine tasting experiences in the area! Just a 35-minute drive from Avenue Hotel, this winery offers a vast array of richly flavoured wines sure to please even the pickiest of palates.
Compliment your wine tasting adventure with one of Clonakilla’s delicious lunch platters to round out the visit while you relax in their outdoor dining spaces.
Located at 3 Crisps Lane, Murrumbateman NSW.
Open weekdays 11am-4pm and on weekends 10am-5pm.
More info at clonakilla.com.au
Mount Majura Vineyard
Images via Out In Canberra
If you’re looking for the best Tempernillo in the region, look no further than Mount Majura Vineyard. Located just a short 13-minute drive from Avenue Hotel, the vineyard provides opportunities for a unique self-guided Gumboot tour so you can explore all this beautiful vineyard has to offer at your own pace.
Relax outside in the sun while enjoying quality Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and much more. Try them alone or with a decadent cheese platter.
Located at 88 Lime Kiln Road, Majura Canberra 2609.
Open daily from 10am-5pm.
More info at mountmajura.com.au
Helm Wines
Images via Ergo Wines | Her Canberra | The Collection Fine Wines
Established by the descendants of German vignors, Helm Wines is famed for its palate-pleasing rieslings, regarded as the best in the region. Whether you're new to wine tasting or an experienced connoisseur, Helm Wines offers the perfect rural setting to enjoy some of their award-winning Rieslings and Cabernet Sauvignons.
The 40-minute drive from Avenue Hotel is truly worth it to learn the art of wine-making and try some of their quality wines at Helm’s cellar door, a heritage listed building which housed the 1888 Toual Schoolhouse.
Located at 19 Butts Road, Murrumbateman NSW 2582.
Open Thursday-Monday from 10am-4pm (Summer), 10am-4pm (Winter).
Learn more at helmwines.com.au
Lark Hill
Images via D&K Kitchen | Lark Hill Winery | Southern Harvest
Positioned in one of the highest and coldest vineyards in Australia and just a 30-minute drive from Avenue Hotel, Lark Hill is perhaps most well renowned for their delicate Rieslings and light yet complex Pinot Noir. This stunning vineyard uses natural methods of biodynamic farming to produce a variety of Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, and Chardonnays.
A visit to their restaurant D & K kitchen is a must! Indulge in their regularly evolving menu that champions seasonal and local produce, especially curated to match their tipple on offer.
Located 521 Bungendore Road, Bungendore NSW.
Open Wednesday-Monday from 11am-4pm, weekends and on weekends during set times.
More info at Larkhill.wine
Eden Road Wines
Images via Eden Road Wines | Winery Lane
Eden Road Wines is a boutique winery, well known for creating some of the most exciting contemporary wines in the region. About a half an hour drive from Avenue Hotel, this winery is perfectly situated in the Australian High Country which offers the prime climate conditions and world-class terroir to grow and create their wide-selection of opulently flavoured wines.
Located at 3182 Barton Highway, Murrumbateman NSW.
Open from Wednesday-Sunday from 11am-5pm.
Additional information at edenroadwines.com.au
Shaw Wines
Images via Visit NSW | Vacations & Travel
Only 35 minutes away from Avenue Hotel, Shaw Wines offers a long list of award-winning wines that can be enjoyed in their tasting room, including Australia’s best Cabernet Sauvignon!
The space is beautifully designed to be enjoyed all year round. Soak up some sun on their outdoor balcony to enjoy panoramic views of the vineyard while sampling their wines. Come winter, patrons can cosy up by the fireplace.
Complete your experience at Olleyville, Shaw Vineyard’s onsite restaurant serving simple yet incredible delicious modern Australian cuisine.
Located at 34 Isabel Drive, Murrumbateman NSW 2582.
Open daily from 10am-5pm.
More info at shawwines.com.au
Contentious Character
Images via Eat Canberra | Visit Canberra
Located in the stunning hills of Wamboin just 32 minutes east of Avenue Hotel, Contentious Character is a contemporary winery that boasts an impressive collection of unique wines that perfectly blends old-world styles with modern flavours. Come up to the tasting bar to sample their collection of Founder’s Museum wines, which the welcoming and knowledgeable staff will gladly take you through.
A must-try is their 2018 Riesling - dry with citrus blossom and ginger on the nose, followed by a flavour filled punch of lemon and lime. It’s the winner of the People’s choice for best label at the National Cool Climate Wine Show for good reason - it’s called ‘Dry As A Dead Dingoes Donga’.
Feeling peckish? Contentious Character’s cellar door kitchen offers a menu that blends traditional Italian flair with contemporary Australian dishes, specially chosen to complement their wines.
Located at 810 Norton Road, Wamboin NSW 2620.
Open Thursday & Friday from 11am-9pm & Saturday - Monday from 11am-5pm.
More info at contentiouscharacter.com.au
Jeir Creek Wines
Images via Rhubarb Wine
Approximately 33 minutes away from Avenue Hotel, Jeir Creek Wines produces a fantastic range of high-quality wines- including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Merlot and Botrytis Semillon Sauvignon Blanc - so you’re sure to find a tipple to suit your taste. With a tasting area overlooking the vineyard, a visit at Jeir Creek Wines promises for a gorgeous day out in the country.
For serious oenophiles, the winery also hosts masterclasses that explore all there is to know about wines. Whether you’re an experienced wine taster or just starting out on your discovery of wine, a visit at Jeir Creek Wines is sure to ignite your appreciation for fine wines.
Located at 122 Bluebell Lane, via Gooda Creek Road, Murrumbateman NSW.
Open Thursday -Monday from 10am-5pm.
More info at jeircreekwines.com.au
Capital Wines
Images via Capital Wines | Canberra District Wine Industry Association
Only an 18-minute drive from the Avenue Hotel, you simply can’t pass up a visit to Capital Wines. The venue produces some of the most awarded and stimulating wines in the district. We especially recommend the 2017 The Whip Riesling - a Canberra Region wine show trophy winner that’s wonderfully racy and aromatic, with a hint of floral on the nose, followed by a long lean acid back-bone of lime citrus and lemon rind.
And for only $40 (with an extra $10 should you opt for dessert) you can sample four of their wines, perfectly matched with nibbles and cheeses to elevate each varietal’s flavour profiles. It’s a sensory experience that’s sure to delight!
Located at 13 Gladstone Street, Hall ACT 2618.
Open Thursday to Monday from 11am-4pm.
More info at capitalwines.com.au
Vintner's Daughter
Images via The Vintner's Daughter | ABC News
Vintner's Daughter features vines that date back to 1978 and is located approximately 35 minutes from Avenue Hotel. The grapes are made into delicious wines, created by husband and wife owners Stephanie Helm and Benjamin Osborne. They focus on offering small-batch wines containing true regional and varietal character. While their flagship wines are their Riesling and Shiraz, the vineyard also directs efforts toward less common varieties, such as Gewürztraminer. They’re all about quality, not quantity and one sip of their wines is testament to the passion for their craft.
Located at 5 Crisps Lane, Murrumbateman NSW 2582.
Open Friday to Sunday from 10am-4pm.
More info at thevintnersdaughter.com.au
