Australia: Big country. Bigger wines.
A vast, sun-soaked continent where ancient soils and cutting-edge winemaking collide. Grapevines arrived in the 1820s with the first European settlers and places like the Barossa Valley, with its rich soils and perfect climate, really lit the fuse on Aussie winemaking.
It’s famous for big, bold reds and BBQs, but Australia’s modern wine scene is far more diverse than it lets on. From razor-sharp Rieslings to elegant Chardonnays and Pinot Noir, there’s something for everyone down under.
Australia, at a glance:
🗺️ Wine regions: 65 officially recognised wine regions (with plenty more unofficial ones)
🍇 Native grapes: None – but they’ve adopted the likes of Shiraz, Cabernet, and Chardonnay as their own
🤓 Wine fact: Over 95% of Australian wine bottles are screwcapped. So leave the corkscrew at home this time!
🥂 Say cheers: “Cheers!” works just fine (or “Good on ya” for bonus points)
🍷 Must-try wine: A classic Barossa Shiraz – rich, ripe and spicy, rich
Naked hero Jen Pfeiffer in her natural habitat – a little rebellious, a lot of fun, and 100% Aussie winemaker energy.
Explore – the hotspots:
Barossa Valley: Barossa is Australia’s Shiraz heartland – where Syrah came to bulk up and party. The wines here are full-bodied and packed with ripe blackberry, spice and dark chocolate. It’s an Aussie classic for a reason.
📍Top tip: Want the real Barossa? Meet Josh Pfeiffer. Born and raised among the vines his dad managed for Penfolds, he knows this land like the back of his hand. Don’t miss his Langhorne Creek Shiraz either – a steal for the quality.
Coonawarra: Coonawarra’s terra rossa soils are the stuff of legend – vivid red and perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon with rich fruit and a signature eucalyptus hint. Think Bordeaux, with a sun-kissed Aussie twist.
📍Top tip: Nina Stocker’s Coonawarra Cabernet combines structure, purity, and just the right amount of power.
Clare Valley: This elevated valley’s cool nights and slate soils make it perfect for Riesling – but forget sickly sweet, this is Aussie-style: dry, citrusy and made for seafood and sunshine.
📍Top tip: Alongside his fresh Riesling, Adam Barton also makes some of his finest reds in the Clare Valley.
Victoria: Shiraz, Pinot, Chardonnay, Cabernet… you name it, you’ll find it in Victoria. The Yarra Valley in particular has nailed modern Chardonnay – light, fresh, and more citrus-driven than its buttery 90s cousins.
📍Top tip: Sam Plunkett’s Single Vineyard wines showcase top fruit from across the state.
Rutherglen: Sticky wine lovers, this one’s for you. Rutherglen Muscat is rich, spiced, and gloriously syrupy – the dessert wine equivalent of a warm hug.
📍Top tip: Jen Pfeiffer is the queen of Rutherglen Muscat – but her everyday reds are just as crowd-pleasing.
Margaret River: After a more refined side of Aussie wine? Head west. Margaret River’s ocean breezes and cool evenings produce wines with pristine balance – think elegant Chardonnays, classic Cabernet, and fresh Semillon-Sauvignon blends.
📍Top tip: Stuart Pym is a local legend – his Chardonnay is world-class but don’t miss the Cabernet either.
Tasmania: Tasmania’s southern latitude makes it Australia’s coolest wine region – literally. Think delicate Pinots with wild berry notes and a whisper of earth. Like Burgundy, but with better surfing.
📍Top tip: Our Tasmanian Pinot leans French in style – savoury, forest floor, with a touch of funk.
Check out all our Australian wines
Craving a truly full-throttle Aussie red? Durif (aka Petite Sirah) is a French-born grape that found its spiritual home in Rutherglen. It’s inky dark and ready to blow your mind… and your tastebuds.
New Zealand: Tiny (ish) but terrific
Okay, not exactly tiny – NZ is bigger than the UK after all – but with less than 1% of the world’s wine production, New Zealand punches way above its weight in prestige. Quality over quantity, that’s what we say.
And it's all thanks to a little grape called Sauvignon Blanc. First planted in Marlborough in 1973, it burst onto the world stage in the ‘80s with its technicolour fruit – waaaaay more tropical than old European styles – and quickly put New Zealand on the map.
But this country has so much more to offer. Thanks to its cool climate, dramatic mountain ranges, and ocean influence from every angle, New Zealand’s a goldmine for crisp whites and elegant reds of all shapes and sizes.
New Zealand, at a glance:
🗺️ Wine regions: 10 major wine regions across the North and South Islands
🍇 Native grapes: None again – but grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay thrive here
🤓 Wine fact: New Zealand was the first country in the world to certify all its wineries as sustainable – so its wines are all super planet-friendly
🥂 Say cheers: “Kia ora!”
🍷 Must-try wine: Marlborough Sauvignon – vibrant, tropical, Kiwi in every way
In New Zealand, tasting rooms come with mountain views as standard. Take a hike, then take a sip.
Explore – the hotspots:
Marlborough: Tucked at the top of South Island, this is Sauvignon HQ. Long sunshine hours, cool nights, and gravelly soils create the perfect climate for zesty, aromatic whites. But there’s more here than just Sauvignon – grapes like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are also making waves here.
📍Top tip: Winemaking dream team (and 2024 Winemakers of the Year) Bill and Claudia Small call this place home. Their best-selling Sauvignon is a one-way ticket to Marlborough in a glass.
Central Otago: Welcome to the world’s southernmost wine region – and one of its most breathtaking. With snow-capped Southern Alps, glacial rivers like the Clutha and Kawarau, and elevated vineyards perched at dizzying heights. The extreme conditions create Pinot Noir that’s complex, and intensely expressive.
📍 Top tip: Winemakers like Phil Handford and Olly Masters are the names behind some of Central Otago’s finest bottles.
Canterbury (Waipara): Just north of Christchurch, Waipara Valley is all about cool-climate winemaking. Coastal breezes, limestone soils, and long growing seasons mean lush Rieslings, elegant Pinots, and bright Chardonnays.
📍 Top tip: Dom Maxwell and Nicky Parish are two names you’ll want to remember – their wines are as beautiful as the scenery.
Hawke’s Bay (and the rest of North Island): Warm, sunny Hawke’s Bay is NZ’s oldest wine region – and still one of its most exciting. Bordeaux-style reds (Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah) shine here, while Naked favourite Rod Easthope also crafts elegant, aromatic whites, and a cracking Merlot Rosé.
📍Top tip: While you're on the North Island, don’t miss Gisborne (home of rich whites) or Martinborough in Wairarapa – a Pinot Noir haven.
Sip your way through New Zealand
Marlborough isn’t just Sauvignon: Bill and Claudia Small’s Pinot Noir Rosé received rave customer reviews for its first vintage and promptly cleaned up at the awards – winning 3 medals from the IWC, IWSC and Decanter.
And that’s all, mates
So there you have it – a whirlwind wine tour of Oceania via bold Barossa reds, zingy Marlborough whites and everything in between. Pretty impressive stuff for just two countries, right?
But don’t hang up your wine passport just yet…
Next stop: South America
We’ll be heading to the land of soaring Andes peaks and sky-high vineyards. Expect smoky Malbecs, delicious Cabs, and a few delicious surprises along the way (best served with empanadas, obviously).
We’ll see you there.
Cheers!
PS. Dreaming of NZ’s freshest whites or want to impress your mates with a banging Shiraz that slaps? Explore wines from Oceania here.
