The Ultimate Guide to the Best Wine Hotels in Australia

All our wine region collections:

• Margaret River Wine Hotels
• Swan Valley Wine Hotels
• Barossa Valley Wine Hotels
• McLaren Vale Wine Hotels
• Yarra Valley Wine Hotels
• Hunter Valley Wine Hotels
• Mornington Peninsula Wine Hotels

Looking for a wine hotel in Australia is a joy as every state produces wines, although the majority of wineries are to be found in the south-east: New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Whatever your taste - whether a Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, a Hunter Valley Semillon, a Barossa Valley Shiraz or a Yarra Valley Chardonnay - use our guide to the best wine hotels in Australia to help plan your visit.

Flickr user Elizabeth Donoghue

One of the leaders of the ‘New World’ wine industry, Australia benefits from its sheer size and its southerly latitude. This means that it possesses virtually every vine-growing climactic condition and, as a result, can boast a full portfolio of wines, from aromatic Rieslings to full-bodied Shiraz, sparkling wines to complex dessert wines.

Best wine hotels in Hunter Valley, New South Wales

Tucked in Australia’s south-eastern corner, New South Wales may be small, but it is also the country’s most populous state. And its wine production - of which Hunter Valley is the leading area - is only second to the country’s leading state, South Australia. Chardonnay and Semillon are Hunter Valley’s prime wines.

• With views over vineyards, Hunter Valley Cooperage is a charming B&B with crisp, modern rooms and very helpful owners who can help plan visits to the local wineries.
• Also with a private vineyard on the doorstep, Spicer’s Vineyards Estate is a luxury option in the heart of the Hunter Valley. The 12 rooms are contemporary-chic in style with ensuite spa facilities and wood-burning fires.

Best wine hotels in Barossa Valley, South Australia

The Barossa Valley, in South Australia, is home to some of the country’s oldest vineyards and most prestigious wineries. A mix of valley floors and rolling hills around the North Para River, it is most famous for its complex, full-bodied Shiraz wines.

• A hotel for foodies, The Louise boasts a restaurant widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest. In the heart of the Barossa Valley, its 15 contemporary style rooms - with private hot tubs and decking - gaze over the vineyards and have stunning sunset views.
• For a romantic treat, try Kingsford Homestead, a converted 19th-century lodge with just seven large, luxury suites. Elegant and contemporary country-house in style, some have private terraces.

Best wine hotels in McLaren Vale, South Australia

McLaren Vale is 35 kilometres (22 miles) south of Adelaide, South Australia’s state capital, and boasts some of Australia’s oldest vines, dating back to the early 19th century. Its Mediterranean-style climate means a wide variety of grape varieties, from Shiraz to Sauvignon Blanc, can be grown.

The region’s proximity to Adelaide also means that, when choosing a wine hotel in this part of Australia, you can be either city- or country-based.

• In the Adelaide Hills, Thorngrove Manor Hotel is a romantic escape with just five luxury rooms in a faux-Gothic mansion. Four-poster beds, lavish drapes, plasterwork ceilings and private terrace dining make this the ultimate luxury hideaway.
• By contrast, the colonial-style Franklin, in Adelaide’s central business district, has quirky and contemporary rooms with bold, dark colours, funky lighting and a relaxed brick-walled bar. Free bicycles for exploring, too.

Best wine hotels in Margaret River, Western Australia

Margaret River is the most famous wine region in Western Australia, tucked on a little promontory in the state’s cooler, south-western, coastal area. Hugging the coastline and known for its more European style of wine-making, it is often favourably compared with Bordeaux. The coastal location also, of course, means that if you’re looking for a wine hotel in Australia to combine with a beach holiday, Margaret River is a great choice.

• Overlooking the bay, Smiths Beach Resort has something for everyone, with both villas and self-catering apartments. Slick and modern in style, there’s also a spa and separate adult and children’s pools.
• For a bit of pampering, Cape Lodge is hard to beat. Not only is it set amongst its own vines and parkland, but its suites ooze contemporary country-house elegance and its restaurant boasts a 14,000-bottle wine cellar.

Best wine hotels in Swan Valley, Western Australia

To the north-east of Perth - Western Australia’s state capital - Swan Valley is the oldest vine-growing area within the state. The area’s hot and sunny climate produces rich, full-bodied wines such as Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

• On the eastern outskirts of Perth, overlooking the Swan River, the Metropol Perth is a large and striking, modern hotel with sleek, minimalist rooms. Many have balconies, plus there’s a spa and gym.
• If you prefer more flexibility, the Adina Apartment Hotel in Perth offers stylish and airy, modern apartments with bold colours and slick furnishings. There’s a gym and swimming pool, too.

Best wine hotels in Yarra Valley, Victoria

Lying close to Victoria’s state capital of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is a deservedly popular wine destination. One of Australia’s oldest wine regions, its relatively cool climate means it can produce more complex wines than the typical Australian full-bodied varieties; most famous are its Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Because of its proximity to Melbourne, visitors looking for a wine hotel in Australia can choose between staying in the country or being in the heart of the city.

• You don’t get much closer to the vines than at Chateau Yering, a Victorian manor house on the Yarra Valley’s oldest vineyard. Its 32 suites are the epitome of country-house luxury with four-poster beds, antiques and lavish drapes. Seventy wineries are on the doorstep. After a day exploring, return to relax with a massage followed by dinner in its first-class restaurant.
• Crown Towers is a swanky hotel in Melbourne overlooking the Yarra River that will appeal to those looking for modern-hotel luxuries. As well as sleek rooms, a spa and roof-top tennis courts, there’s a glamorous bar plus designer shopping is close at hand.

Best wine hotels in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

An hour to the south of Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula is Victoria’s other leading wine region, along with Yarra Valley. Like the latter, it, too, is famed for its elegant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines that can be produced by its cooler climate.

As the region sits between Port Phlilip Bay and Bass Strait, this gives a choice of Australian wine hotels: coast or city.

• You couldn’t get much closer to the sea than at Big Blue Backyard, three hideaway luxury cabins on St Andrews Beach. Built of local materials, and with a colourful safari or beach theme, each has a private deck where the owners serve romantic dinners. Discreet, attentive, very romantic.
• For stylish, fuss-free rooms - and great value - Melbourne’s Middle Park Hotel is hard to beat. The service is friendly, there’s excellent gastropub-style food in its restaurant while an open-air market (the largest in the southern hemisphere) and the Botanical Gardens are close by.

Australia is a huge country which needs time to explore. And, as every state produces wine, it can be hard to know where to start if exploring its wineries is your goal. Use our guide to the best wine hotels in Australia to help make your task easier as well as more pleasurable, or contact one of our friendly gurus for advice.

 

Written by Helen Pickles

posted Wednesday, 29th March 2023