Pt Leo Estate, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria © @christopher_mcc
7 Unique Winery Experiences for Groups
Searching for a winery that goes beyond the standard group tasting experience? Look no further than the Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia. We reveal seven unique winery experiences for business events groups, from sampling bush tucker to strolling through Australia’s largest privately-owned sculpture park (with a glass of wine in hand, of course).
Stroll among the sculptures at Pt. Leo Estate
Pt Leo Estate, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria © Anson Smart
Nestled near the coastline of the peaceful Mornington Peninsula just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne , Pt. Leo Estate is no ordinary cellar door. This elegant estate boasts the largest privately-owned sculpture park in Australia, which houses an ever-evolving outdoor gallery of more than 60 Australian and international pieces. After admiring the sculptures, groups can stroll through the vineyard and sample the wine in situ - literally, among the vines - before a fine dining experience at either of the estate’s hatted restaurants. The entire venue can be hired exclusively for groups of up to 600 guests and can host up to 220 seated guests for lunch or dinner.
Take a spin on a segway at Seppeltsfield
Segway experience, Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley, South Australia © Iain Bond
Groups visiting Seppeltsfield in South Australia’s famous Barossa Valley can glide among the grapevines of one of Australia’s oldest wineries on a guided segway tour with Segway Sensation. After a short skills lesson in the picnic grounds, groups of up to 15 guests can take a leisurely journey along a purpose-built trail and soak up the views of Seppeltsfield’s 19th century Barossa architecture and its beautifully kept vineyards and gardens. Experiences can be rotated for larger groups; with Fino restaurant, JamFactory art studio, Vasse Virgin olive oil and soap, Octeine Coffee and a working cooperage onsite, there’s plenty to occupy groups in between tours.
Sample local bush tucker at Mandoon Estate
Bushtucker, Mandoon Estate, Swan Valley, Western Australia © David Broadway
At Mandoon Estate in the Swan Valley, a 30-minute drive from the centre of Perth, guests are warmly greeted by Wardandi Bibbulmun woman Dale Tilbrook as they arrive for a bush tucker tasting. This experience for up to 25 guests kicks off with a glass of Mandoon’s sparkling wine, then guests join Dale under the shade of a jacaranda tree to learn about the history of the Noongar traditional owners and their Indigenous farming methods. Paired with lunch at contemporary onsite restaurant Wild Swan or the Homestead Brewery afterwards, this bush tucker tasting experience makes an authentic addition to a future incentive program in Western Australia.
Concoct your own wine at the d’Arenberg Blending Bench
d'Arenberg Cube, McLaren Vale, South Australia © Jason Watson
The d’Arenberg Cube is an extraordinary Rubik’s cube-shaped building is a five-storey, multi-function cellar door and event space in South Australia's McLaren Vale wine region, just 45 minutes from the city of Adelaide. There are a range of experiences on offer for groups here including exploring the Alternate Realities Museum or lunching at neighbouring d’Arry’s Verandah, and the Blending Bench is a great way to kick off the day’s activities. This hands-on, interactive experience allows private groups of up to 30 guests to play winemaker by blending a selection of barrel samples to create their own personalised red wine, which they can then take home as a memento.
Discover the paintings behind Leeuwin Estate’s Art Series
Leeuwin Estate art gallery, Margaret River region, Western Australia © Frances Andrijich
In Western Australia’s Margaret River region, groups can discover the captivating combination of fine art and fine wine at the highly lauded Leeuwin Estate. This magnificent estate – renowned for its celebrated Concert Series featuring alfresco performances from some of the world’s leading musicians – is set to a backdrop of towering karri trees, with sweeping views from the restaurant balcony. The art gallery beneath the cellar door offers the unique opportunity for guests to discover the collection of contemporary Australian artworks behind the prestigious Art Series wine labels, which is the perfect way to whet the appetite for a wine-matched degustation lunch in the award-winning restaurant which seats up to 250 guests.
Dine from a living moss-and-herb table at The Source, Moorilla
The Source, Moorilla, Hobart, Tasmania © Remi Chauvin
In Tasmania’s capital of Hobart, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) has taken farm-to-table dining quite literally with the option for guests to feast at tables carpeted with real herbs and moss. ‘The Source’ restaurant is housed alongside MONA’s onsite winery Moorilla, and offers a super-fresh, seasonal menu celebrating Tasmania’s finest produce. Guests can pull up a chair at these lush, outdoor living tables and enjoy a unique dining experience matched with Moorilla’s top drops. The Source restaurant can cater for cocktail events of up to 100 guests, or a sit-down dinner for 64.
Be a chef for a day at St Hugo
St Hugo, Barossa Valley, South Australia © Lightly Salted, Liam West
At St Hugo in the Barossa Valley, guests can fulfill their culinary dreams with a ‘Kitchen Table’ experience. With a glass of sparkling in hand, groups of up to eight guests at one time can take a tour of the kitchen garden and, with the chef’s expert guidance and assistance, pick seasonal produce to feature on the group’s personalised lunch menu. They’ll then brush up on their kitchen skills by assisting with the meal preparation, before sitting down alongside the chef to reap the rewards of their efforts – matched with St Hugo Wines, of course – and to gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between wine and food. Tip: For larger groups, arrange for some guests to experience a Riedel masterclass or personalised back-vintage tasting in the Hugo Gramp cellar, then bring everyone together for lunch.
Published: 10 June 2021
