Looking for a new go-to winery? Here is a list of nine to explore

With thousands of producers across Australia and New Zealand, we are lucky to have such incredible wineries on our doorstep. However, it can also be hard to know which ones to explore when looking for a new go-to wine or weekend visit.

To help you out, we've put together a list of nine wineries from regions including the Yarra Valley, the Barossa Valley, Waiheke Island, the Granite Belt, the Adelaide Hills, Marlborough and the Hunter Valley. Discover new wines from each producer to try this spring, and get to know some of the people, places and stories behind the bottles.

Learn more about each producer from the list below.

Hillcrest Vineyard, Yarra Valley

Hillcrest Vineyard is a small, family-owned vineyard in the Upper Yarra Valley, home to old, dry-grown plantings of pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and merlot dating back to the 1970s. Under the care of viticulturist Steph Koomen, our vineyard is farmed with a focus on vine health, sustainability and preserving the character of this distinctive site, producing wines that reflect both place and season. – Hillcrest Vineyard 

5 ★ winery | hillcrestvineyard.com.au | Halliday profile 

Laughing Jack, Barossa Valley

Laughing Jack is a family-owned and operated winery in the Barossa Valley, with Shawn and Briony Kalleske at the heart of the business, alongside Shawn’s parents and two brothers. Founded on generations of farming and viticulture, the family remains hands-on across the vineyards, winery and cellar door. Estate vineyards across Marananga, Greenock and Moppa are planted predominantly to shiraz, as well as grenache, semillon, mataro and cabernet. The estate includes treasured old vines that contribute depth, character and a sense of place. The name Laughing Jack is a nod to the Australian kookaburra, whose familiar call is part of the surrounding landscape. – Laughing Jack

5 ★ winery | laughingjackwines.com | Halliday profile 

Man O' War, Waiheke Island

Man O’ War’s story begins at the eastern edge of Waiheke Island, where vines are planted across 75 individual sites, high on coastal clifftops and tucked into sheltered slopes. Shaped by clay soils, cooling sea breezes and a distinctly maritime climate, the wines are a vivid expression of this wild island landscape. From Waiheke in the North, the journey continues south with Swiftsure, taking decades of winemaking and viticultural experience to high-altitude vineyards in Marlborough and Bannockburn. Here, the maritime influence gives way to sub-alpine hillsides, rugged river terraces and ancient schist. Different places and varieties, connected by the people behind them and a shared pursuit: finding exceptional sites and making wines that belong to them. – Man O' War

manowar.co.nz | Halliday profile 

Medhurst, Yarra Valley

The wheel has come full circle for Ross and Robyn Wilson. In the course of a very distinguished corporate career, Ross was CEO of Southcorp when it brought the Penfolds, Lindeman's and Wynns businesses under its banner. Robyn spent her childhood in the Yarra Valley, her parents living less than a km away from Medhurst. The vineyard is planted to low-yielding sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz vines. The winery focuses on small-batch production and also provides contract winemaking services. Rohan Smith joined the team as head winemaker in '23, bringing with him a verve for precision and deep respect for the site, which is proving to translate well in the bottle. – James Halliday

5 ★ winery | medhurstwines.com.au | Halliday profile 

Serrena Que Estate, Granite Belt

Serrena Que Estate is a place where love, dreams and fine wine come together. With dedication, determination and a dash of serendipity, Cindy Longman and Simon Smith have crafted a future that’s as rich and complex as the wines they produce. The Granite Belt is renowned across Australia for its cool climate viticulture, and our elevated position takes that advantage even further. The cellar door experience at Serrena Que Estate is personal and unhurried. You’re likely to meet the winemakers, husband and wife team Simon and Cindy, who’ll share the story behind each Strangebird variety. We welcome you to take your time exploring the aroma, structure and character of wines. – Serrena Que Estate

serranaqueestate.com.au | Halliday profile 

Sidewood Estate, Adelaide Hills

Founded by Owen and Cassandra Inglis in 2004 with the purchase of the original Mappinga Road vineyard, Sidewood has grown from 20ha under vine to 110ha across four Adelaide Hills vineyards. As the first Adelaide Hills winery to achieve sustainable certification, Sidewood now manages three sustainably certified vineyards in Oakbank, Echunga and Charleston, alongside an organically certified vineyard at Nairne. Today, the estate produces an extensive portfolio of wines and ciders that reflect the diversity and quality of the Adelaide Hills. The estate is also home to an award-winning restaurant and cellar door, offering a premium yet welcoming destination that showcases the very best of the Adelaide Hills. – Sidewood Estate

5 ★ winery | sidewood.com.au | Halliday profile 

Spy Valley, Marlborough

Spy Valley is a family-owned, vertically integrated estate hidden in the heart of Marlborough that produces sustainably crafted wines that capture the unique time and place of every vintage since 1993. Here, we practice low intervention winemaking, letting the land and climate speak through each bottle. From vine to glass, everything is handled on-site, allowing us full control over quality and sustainability. Spy Valley was awarded London Wine Competition’s NZ Winery of the Year, and is a proud member of Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW). Our wine has been called 'impossible to ignore' and consistently delivers exceptional experiences for our people and wine lovers around the world. – Spy Valley

4.5 ★ winery | spyvalleywine.co.nz | Halliday profile 

Winmark Wines, Hunter Valley

Danish for ‘Field of Vines’, Winmark is a must-visit Hunter Valley destination where exceptional chardonnay, art and nature come together. The former Poole’s Rock vineyard, with vines dating to 1972, has been transformed into a leading producer of outstanding chardonnay. The estate features beautifully manicured gardens, a striking Sculpture Park and curated Art Gallery. From the cellar door, views stretch across prized Burgundy and Penfolds clones, Poole’s Rock and the surrounding Yengo National Park. The mountains create a distinctive microclimate and terroir that shape Winmark’s acclaimed chardonnay. Stay longer and immerse yourself in the tranquillity of our onsite guesthouses. – Winmark Wines

5 ★ winery | winmarkwines.com.au | Halliday profile 

Yarra Yering, Yarra Valley

In Sep ’08, founder Bailey Carrodus died and in Apr ’09 Yarra Yering was on the market. It was Bailey Carrodus' clear wish and expectation that any purchaser would continue to manage the vineyard and winery, and hence the wine style, in much the same way as he had done for the previous 40 years. Its acquisition by a small group of investment bankers fulfilled that wish. The low-yielding, unirrigated vineyards have always produced wines of extraordinary depth and intensity. Dry Red No. 1 is a cabernet blend; Dry Red No. 2 is a shiraz blend; Dry Red No. 3 is a blend of touriga nacional, tinta cão, tinta roriz, tinta amarela, alvarelhão and sousão. The Underhill is from a single block of shiraz planted in '73 (from an adjacent vineyard purchased by Yarra Yering in ’87). Sarah Crowe was appointed winemaker after the ’13 vintage. She has made red wines of the highest imaginable quality right from the start, transitioning the range to screw caps. For good measure, she also introduced the Light Dry Red Pinot Shiraz in ’14, and was named Winemaker of the Year 2017. – James Halliday

5 ★ winery | yarrayering.com | Halliday profile