A Taste Of The Riverina | The Ultimate Wine Trail

Move over, Hunter Valley. Step aside, Yarra. There’s a quiet revolution happening right here in New South Wales’ southwest, and it tastes remarkably like world-class Durif and award-winning Botrytis.

If you still think great Australian wine is reserved for the coastal fringes, it’s time to point your car inland and prepare for a vibe shift. The Riverina is the powerhouse you didn’t see coming. A sun-drenched patch of New South Wales shaped by rich soils, Mediterranean heat, and generations of Italian families who know exactly what to do with a grape.

Forget the pretension of the more "talked-about" regions. This is a wine tour where cellar doors feel like a seat at a family table, lunches have a habit of stretching into sunset, and the stories are as bold as the pours.

Where the Riverina Wine Story Begins

The undisputed capital of the region’s wine scene, Griffith has strong Italian heritage woven through the town’s DNA, which means the espresso is strong, the pasta is handmade, and the wine list is extensive. Best paired with everyday life, not just for special occasions, cellar doors sit just beyond town, making it easy to spend a full day hopping between icons and boutique producers.

Calabria Family Wines

Setting the tone with its Tuscan-style cellar door and third-generation winemaking history, Calabria Family Wines has been at it for decades, and their cellar door is pure old-world glamour. Settle in and expect Italian varietals, bold reds and generous pours - it’s the closest you’ll get to Florence without a passport. Book an experience if you can, it’s worth slowing down for.

De Bortoli Wines Bilbul Estate

You can't visit the Riverina and skip the home of the 'Noble One.' With four cellar doors dotted across NSW, Bilbul estate in the hear of the Riverina wine country is all about relaxed elegance. It’s the kind of place where you order a platter, snag a spot in the gardens, and suddenly realise two hours have vanished. a place that invites you to stay a little longer than planned.

McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate

With 140 years of skin in the game, McWilliam’s is a certified legend. Visit for a museum-style display of Australian winemaking history and guided tastings housed in their ‘big barrel’ cellar door, very aptly named due to its (very appropriate) shape of a giant wine barrel. Open every Friday and Saturday from 11am to 4pm, it blends more than a century of winemaking history with contemporary tasting experiences.

Smaller Stops, Big Personality

Yarran Wines

Perched just outside Yenda, Yarran Wines delivers one of the Riverina’s most visually striking cellar door experiences. Designed to sit at the same height as the vineyard trellis, the architecturally considered space appears to float among the vines, with uninterrupted views stretching all the way to Cocoparra National Park. Pair that setting with organically grown, minimal-intervention wines and a relaxed, thoughtful tasting experience, and you’ve got a stop that feels quietly confident rather than showy. It’s the kind of cellar door you’ll wish you’d discovered sooner.

Berton Vineyards

Just down the road, Berton Vineyards offers a modern, approachable tasting experience across a diverse range of styles. It’s an easy, welcoming stop that suits both seasoned wine lovers and curious first-timers.

Meditrina Beverages

For something a little different, Meditrina Beverages blends cellar door tastings with café culture and events. It’s the perfect mid-tour reset, ideal for lunch, a coffee break, or sampling something unexpected.

Harvest HQ

A natural pit stop between cellar doors and your final destination in Griffith, Harvest HQ is where the Riverina’s farm-to-table story comes into sharp focus. Housed in the old ambulance station, it’s part farm gate, part local hub, run by the local Riverina winemakers for sun-ripened fruit, seasonal produce and regional pantry staples, all straight from the source.

The Crafty Detour

Once you’ve conquered Griffith, head east toward Leeton. A town shaped by art deco architecture, irrigation canals and long-standing vineyards, here the pace slows down, and the artisan energy ramps up.

Lillypilly Estate Wines

A long-time local favourite known for its crisp whites and botrytis-style dessert wines. Lillypilly Estate is a classic Riverina stop — welcoming, down-to-earth and a great way to taste the region’s signature sun-kissed style that’s won over 1000 awards.

Toorak Wines

Located among some of the region's most historic vineyards, Toorak is the place for classic Riverina varietals. It’s elegant, understated, and perfect for a weekday afternoon escape, with free wine tastings Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Whitton Malt House

Ok, so not technically a winery, but Whitton Malt House is a non-negotiable on the Riverina wine trail. Set on the banks of Lake Hulong, this modern distillery and brewery celebrates the region’s grain-to-glass story. Sample craft beer paddles, single malt whiskies or local spirits, and linger over lunch with water views.

MAKE IT A WEEKEND

If you’ve got time (or just don’t like rushing), extend your journey to Regal Estate in West Wyalong. A hidden gem of the Bland Shire, it’s boutique, welcoming and quietly confident. The kind of stop that makes a road trip feel complete and rewards those willing to explore beyond the obvious. Make it a weekend and book in for a night under the stars at Little Grove Retreat.

Why One Day Won’t Be Enough

The magic of the Riverina isn’t just in the quality of the wine or the craft of the brews; it’s in the space to enjoy them. Distances are short, roads are easy, and the hospitality encourages you to linger.

Base yourself in Griffith or Leeton, layer in long lunches, local produce and farm-gate stops, and let the region set the pace. This is inland touring done right: generous, unpretentious and absolutely worth the drive.