Image 1 of 1
As with all Empty Bottle trips, accommodation will be at four and five star rated properties (or equivalent) and will be centred in the Barossa Valley for four nights and Launceston (Tasmania) for three nights. The seven day tour will see us dine at some of Australia’s best restaurants with these meals (four dinners and six lunches) accompanied by carefully chosen fine wines that represent the very best that Australia has to offer.
In region, transport will be aboard a small, luxury coach and the price listed also includes two domestic flights in economy with one check-in case/baggage per person (Adelaide-Launceston and Hobart-Melbourne). We fly to Melbourne on the last day where guests will then be free to enjoy Australia’s most vibrant city, before continuing their vacation under their own steam or returning to the US. For those guests wishing to include the additional Victoria leg of this epic Australian wine adventure, guests will stay in Melbourne so that we can visit the nearby regions of the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Heathcote. This two and a half day, three night extension, includes three more dinners and two lunches.
The Itinerary
Four nights at the Heritage listed, four star, Kingsford Hotel in the heart of the Barossa
23rd March – The Valley Floor
Can you make great white wine in the Barossa Valley? Is Grenache a real challenger to Shiraz’ dominance? Have you ever tasted wine that is more than 100 years old? And what is Barossa Shiraz i.e. is it elegant, monolithic, age-worthy, fine, crowd-pleasing or perhaps all of these things? Today will answer all of these questions.
We will visit Yelland & Papps to taste their incredible Roussannes and award winning Grenache
Seppletsfield to see the original gravity flow winery and to taste the incredibly rare 100 yr old Para Tawny, straight out of the barrel.
We will visit Dan Standish to taste the quintessence of what makes Barossa Shiraz so memorable, impressive and long lived
We will have a conversation and barrel tasting with the brilliant Andrew Quin, award winning winemaker at Hentley Farm
24th March – Eden Valley
Icon followed by icon but first we will start with my very favourite producer in the region, the wonderful Phil Lehmann.
Max and Me, Phil’s small but perfectly formed winery that demonstrates what the ‘true’ Barossa is all about; artisanal production crafted with care and skill.
We will have a behind the scenes visit of the storied Yalumba, and have the opportunity to taste their range of benchmark Eden Valley wines
We will visit Henschke to learn about why they make some of the most acclaimed wine anywhere in the world
25th March – The Adelaide Hills
This cool region has a completely different feel to the Barossa and we will be tasting that difference through some of the very best wines the Hills have to offer.
Shaw & Smith, operated by Burgundy lover, Michael Hill Smith, will see us try some benchmark Chardonnay, Pinot and a little Sauvignon Blanc…Michael’s response to wrestle back some sales from the success of New Zealand SB on Australia’s shores.
BK wines, small, family run and utterly brilliant. We will be guided around the winery and tatsing room by the owners (either Kirstyn or Brendon Keys)
No visit to the Hills would be complete without a trip to the Basket Ranges and no single estate has helped define the region more expressively than the legendary Ochota Barrels
26th March – Transfer To Launceston, Tasmania
One night in the five star, Peppers Silo Hotel, Launceston
27th March – Piper’s River and the Tamar Valley
Australia makes memorabel and fine versions across all wine styles and in northern Tasmania we will visit the greatest producer of sparkling wines in the southern hemisphere and if the vintage allows we will get to talk with Ed Carr, surely the greatest winemaker of sparkling wine in Australia’s history.
At the House of Arras, we will travel through a piece of winemaking history by exploring wines that have had extended time on lees (up to forty years!!). This is a must visit for all true connoisseurs of the effervescent.
Joe Holyman is making some of the best wines in Tasmania at his bijou but very beautiful estate, Stoney Rise
Transfer to Hobart for a two night stay at the five star, The Tasman.
28th March – The Huon Valley & Coal Valley
Today is a day for world class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.
We will visit one of the most talented people I have ever had the pleasure to work under, Sam Connew of Stargazer Wines. Sam’s energy and drive is mirrored in her wines, perhaps none more so than in her pristine Rieslings.
Toldpuddle is home to some of the most widely available fine Tasmanian Pinot and Chardonnay…
…whereas finding Jim Chatto’s wines can be frustratingly difficult, however the effort is always worth it, Jim’s wines demonstrate that he is a winemaker at the very top of his game.
29th March – Transfer to Melbourne
Victoria Leg: Three nights at the five star, The Lyall, in South Yarra
Guests who are not joining the Victoria leg will depart from Melbourne on March 29th.
30th March – Mornington Peninsula
This playground for Melbourne’s glitterati is also a wonderful place in which to make wine; we will discover why.
Yabby Lake, the single vineyard wines from Tom Carson’s talented team, show why these wines are so highly prized. We will also dine at Yabby’s wonderful restaurant.
At Ten Minutes by Tractor the focus is unashamedly on the Pinot Noirs, this is a visit for all Burgundy lovers.
31st March – Yarra Valley
The Yarra’s fluctuations in both altitude and terroir mean that there are many different varieties and expressions of those varieties across the breadth of the valley. We will visit some of the true icons of Australian wine production on this, our last full day in the region.
Yarra Yering under the ever watchful Sarah Crowe, make some of Australia’s greatest Cabernet…but there are other plenty of other wines to get excited about here too.
Recently, I was fortunate enough to taste a vertical of Mount Mary’s fabled wines going back to 1986, the chance to visit such a storied Estate is an opportunity not to be missed.
Luke Lambert is famed for his elegant and perfumed Syrah, we will find out what makes Luke’s efforts so special.
1st April – The Macedon Ranges
Our last morning sees us travel the short distance to Bindi, the producer of (some say) Australia’s greatest Pinot…a fitting end to an unforgettable trip
Not Included:
Transportation to and from Adelaide
Transportation to/from the hotel
Food and beverages ordered outside of program
All items of a personal nature
ASSUMPTIONS:
All estates and restaurants listed in this Itinerary are subject to availability, and will be confirmed once the Booking Form and Terms and Conditions have been returned with deposit for the selected dates.
Availability of requested estates and proposed restaurants have not been confirmed.
PAYMENT DETAILS:
Cost: after June 1, 2025: $9750. before June 1, 2025: $9000.
Occupancy:
*This rate is based on double occupancy
*There will be a single supplement applied of $1750 for those not sharing a room.
Deposit:
A non-refundable deposit of $2000 is due at time of booking
Final Payment:
The balance (based on double occupancy) is due November 30, 2025, or your reservation will be released and the cancellation penalty will be applied.
CANCELLATION FEES:
Should you or any member of your party have to cancel their booking once it has been confirmed, a written notice of cancellation must be given. The effective date for cancellation is the date when we receive a written notice. Cancellation charges will apply and are detailed as follows:
Where one or more participants cancel their participation less than 16 weeks prior to the start date but more than 2 weeks from the start date, they will be liable to a cancellation fee of 50%.
Less than 4 weeks to the start date, the fee will rise to 100%.
Any increase in price payable as a result of part cancellation and/or sole occupancy, will be indicated on a revised confirmation invoice.