Cracka Wines
 
There is no better way to enjoy great wine than by taking a trip through our fabulous wine regions. There you can sample, normally for no charge, the many fantastic wines to be found at cellar doors around the country.

Most rewarding of all is often just a chat to the passionate owners and winemakers while tasting their wares.
 
To organise such a trip is usually very easy indeed as almost all the state and territory capitals have a selection of fine nearby vineyards to visit, some of which can be done during a simple day trip. Even if you are going interstate, a quick winery tour is a grand way to spend a day or three.
 
In Perth, the Swan Valley and Margaret River are great places to get acquainted with the local product.

In Adelaide you are spoiled with choice as the regions of McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Barossa and Eden Valleys are barely a stone’s throw away.

Down south, Hobart has the vineyards of the Derwent to explore. Melbourne is paradise as the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Gippsland, Sunbury and Macedon Ranges are all in striking distance.

Sydney has the Hunter Valley plus Mudgee and Orange to chose from.

Even Brisbane has the vineyards of the Granite Belt around Stanthorpe. And don’t forget Canberra and the ACT with some serious cool climate stars.
 
As you can see we are all spoiled for choice when it comes to tasting the fruits of the land. All you really need is a map, full tank of petrol, designated driver and the great wines of Australia are waiting for you.
 
But before you head out, here are a couple of tips. It is best to do a little planning and research before you hit the road to pick the vineyards you want to visit, with a quick web search normally enough to help you find the best producers.

And importantly try not to taste at too many vineyards in a day as after five or six it becomes surprisingly hard to tell the wines apart. Happy trails!

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