USD
Vino & Views: 9 of Australia’s Most Beautiful Cellar Doors
Written by Penny Cordner-Maas
From avant-garde architecture to hidden Hobbit-holes, these are nine of Australia’s most stunning cellar doors.
Australia is blessed with some of the most spectacular wine country in the world and while wine tasting is the ultimate aim, some cellar doors offer more than just a good drop. If you prefer your vino with a side of cinematic views, sensational design and heritage that’s lasted the ages, set your sights on these spectacular cellar doors.
1. TarraWarra Estate, Yarra Valley, Victoria
Despite first impressions, you have not stumbled into a Tolkien novel. Located in the Yarra Valley, this cellar door looks like it’s been plucked straight out of Hobbiton. Access is via a wooden door hidden within a curved stone entrance, which leads to an underground cellar door with moody, industrial charm and an elegant timber bar lit from the black funnel skylights overhead. Sip the afternoon away underground in this sleek space, tasting the vast TarraWarra range, and then enjoy a stroll through 400 acres of farmland carpeted in rows of vines, vegetables and tall pine trees. Estate vineyard tours are also available.
Other options for beautiful cellar doors in Victoria include the King Valley and Mornington Peninsula.
2. Tyrrell’s, Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Walking through some of the Hunter Valley’s oldest vines to reach the cellar door of Tyrrell’s winery is like stepping back in time. The original, rusted bark hut that Edward Tyrrell lived in (back in 1858) takes pride of place, the old oak vats are still on display and the historic underground red cellar is still used in the wine-making process today. Experience 160 years of history and walk on the ground where six generations of wine-making prestige have been finessed, culminating in Vat 1 semillon, one of Australia’s most awarded white wines, whose vines were first planted in 1923.
3. Levantine Hill, Yarra Valley, Victoria
This award-winning Yarra Valley winery could easily pass for an art gallery, with grand barrel vault ceilings and corrugated iron beams directing your gaze towards the vines inside. Marrying architecture with award-winning drops, Levantine Hill’s cellar door is an avant-garde creation by the Fender Katsalid Architects, the same firm that designed MONA (Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart). The interior is filled with visually stunning barrel booths and two chef-hatted dining spaces, while outside the grounds are overflowing with wonderful paintings and sculptures by Australian artists. The wine is nothing to sniff at either (though, please do), with grapes handpicked and hand sorted into batches of 50kg to ensure only the best of the best fruit is used. And one of the best things about the Yarra Valley? It’s only a 40-minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD.
4. Pt Leo Estate, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Pt Leo Estate is not just a winery. It’s 50 acres of vines tempered with cool, maritime breezes, a remarkable sculpture park with over 40 large-scale pieces, a vast restaurant, a glamorous architecturally-designed cellar door and wine terrace with an unparalleled 180° view that extends towards Western Port Bay. On arrival, walk through the sleek concrete walls of the main building, designed to conjure the image of wine being poured into a glass, and kick back on the wine terrace with charcuterie, cheese, and a glass of pinot gris.
5. Moorilla, Hobart, Tasmania
While MONA (next door) boasts a subterranean cave stuffed with wonders, the artwork in the tasting room of neighbouring Moorilla Winery will literally go over your head. Established by the owner of MONA, David Walsh, this small-batch winery invites you to frolic among the cool climate vines of Tasmania’s second-oldest vineyard, swill a glass of signature Praxis and admire John Olsen’s stunning work of art, The Source (2002-03), in pride of place overhead.
6. Port Phillip Estate, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Hidden deep in the earth with a dramatic staircase that descends into the cavernous cellar door and restaurant, Port Phillip Estate is a winery that knows how to set a first impression. Straddling a ridge in the cool Mornington Peninsula, this winery is an architectural monument with limestone walls that spiral into the earth and an outdoor deck overlooking seemingly endless vine-laced hills and the Westernport coast. You wouldn’t know it, but all wine production is internal with a winery and barrel room hidden in the basement, just underneath the cellar door. So, grab some friends and un-wine on the outdoor deck with that view and a glass of pinot noir.
7. D’Arenburg, McLaren Vale, South Australia
D’Arenburg’s cellar door marries a Rubik’s Cube-style design with the glitz of a disco ball. Overlooking neat rows of shiraz and grenache vines, D’Arenberg itself is as much a spectacle as the panoramic views from its five stories. Inspired by the complexities of winemaking, this architectural marvel was carefully designed to delight the senses with a wine aroma inhalation room, a 360° video installation that puts you (virtually) in a fermenter, an eclectic art collection and a tribal-themed restaurant with a degustation menu created by Michelin-trained chefs. Thanks to the unique puzzle-like design, one thing’s certain — you can drink in the valley views from wherever you stand.
8. Sevenhill Cellars, Clare Valley, South Australia
Sitting pretty amid the Clare Valley vines just off the Riesling Trail, overlooked by the stately St Aloysius’ Church, Sevenhill Cellars is one of South Australia’s oldest and most unique wineries. The cellar door was previously a Jesuit Monastery (established in 1851), but these days the close-to-holy drops are available for all to enjoy. Enjoy a picnic amid the vines, enjoy a near-spiritual tasting experience at the cellar door with a tasting of Sevenhill’s enduring altar wine, and tour the underground cellars and crypt.
9. Juniper Estate, Margaret River, Western Australia
A visual feast of rambling roses and flower-filled gardens with a quaint cottage of sandstone at its centre, Juniper Estate will fulfil your wildest Cotswold dreams. Nestled in Western Australia’s acclaimed Margaret River region, this beautifully intimate cellar door is a slice of English charm with the picturesque Wilyabrup Creek running through the middle and hard-to-resist grassy riverbanks on either side; perfect for kicking back with a glass of 2013 cabernet sauvignon.
Featured image: D’Arenburg, McLaren Vale, South Australia.
