There are more than a dozen wine regions dotted around NSW. But if you don’t have time to leave the city, you can taste the best of them right here in Sydney.
- 2 min read
Handpicked Cellar Door
Where: CBD
Handpicked Cellar Door started in the Capella Valley of the Mornington Peninsula in 2013. They now operate vineyards all over Australia and work with boutique growers to create a range of regionally expressive wines. Taste them all at the cellar door, set on the ground floor of the historic Porter House Hotel. A wine flight can be customised to your preferences and you’ll be guided by one of the expert staff.
Handpicked Cellar Door, Sydney - Credit: Handpicked Cellar Door
Cittavino
Where: Enmore
Imagine that your favourite bottle shop set up a table where you could take a seat, talk about wine, taste a few styles and then take a bottle home. That’s exactly the vibe at Cittavino. The sommelier has worked at some of Sydney’s best restaurants, curating top-notch wine lists from around the world, and brings their expertise to this tiny wine bar. Everything is available by the glass, giving you the opportunity to taste wines you won’t see anywhere else in Australia.
Cittavino, Newtown - Credit: Cittavino
P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants
Where: Paddington
Owned by wine writer Mike Bennie and hospo heavyweight Lou Dowling, P&V Paddington is the second outpost of their successful bar/bottle shop combination. Specialising in natural and organic wines, there are free in store tastings available every day and the bar staff will open different bottles, so you’ll get the chance to taste something unique every time. There’s even a courtyard out the back if you want to buy a bottle to enjoy right away. P&V also runs regular wine-tasting events and masterclasses both here and at the Newtown store, focusing on different style (like skin contact wines) or regions.
P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants, Paddington
Sydney Wine Centre
Where: Pyrmont
If you want to take your wine tasting a little more seriously, book in to the Sydney Wine Centre. This is serious wine appreciation. You’ll taste between nine and 12 wines at the one-off classes, each themed around a country or wine variety. Wine courses run over two or four nights and there are options for absolute beginners or wine buffs wanting to increase their knowledge. There are also useful classes in things like ‘how to read a wine list’, so you’ll be able to impress your friends at your next dinner.
Sydney Wine Centre, Pyrmont
Château Tanunda Sydney Cellar Door
Where: The Rocks
Housed in an atmospheric 1860s original sandstone building in The Rocks, Château Tanunda's wine-tasting room gives visitors the chance to explore some of Barossa's most distinctive wines in the heart of Sydney. Offering privately hosted tastings, this makes a great activity for wine clubs, special occasions and corporate groups. Looking for a more casual visit? Wines are available by the glass, alongside a selection of tasty treats.
Château Tanunda Sydney Cellar Door - Credit: Anna Kucera
Flight Path Wine Bar
Where: Newtown
This cosy wine bar on Enmore Road brings the cellar door experience to the Inner West. Each month they feature a different boutique winery from around Australia, so you can sit down to a wine flight from the Hunter Valley, Barossa or Margaret River without having to leave the city. There’s also lots of interesting wines available by the glass or bottle and a small snack menu to keep you going.
Flight Path Wine Bar, Newtown - Credit: William Mallat Photography
Bottle shop tastings
Where: Around the city
Many of Sydney’s best bottle shops offer regular in-store tastings. Drop in to Annandale Cellars on a Saturday afternoon for a free tasting with the expert staff. Barrelhouse Cellars in The Rocks has guided tastings every day and regularly hosts special tastings with top Australian vineyards, where you can chat with the winemakers. Hunters Hill Wine Room is run by one of just a handful of Master Sommeliers in the country and he hosts free tastings on the weekend. Winona Wine in Manly holds regular tastings, meet-the-maker events and masterclasses, and Bayswater Fine Wines in Rushcutters Bay has a dedicated tasting room.
Hunters Hill Wine Room, Hunters Hill - Credit: Hunters Hill Wine Room
Mille Vini
Where: Surry Hills
A beloved Surry Hills institution, Mille Vini serves up classic Italian dishes, handcrafted pasta and boutique Italian wines six nights a week. But if you want to delve further into the world of Italian wine, sign up for one of their Wine Master Classes. Each explores a specific region of Italy with a renowned winemaker, taking you through the regional varietals and sharing wine tasting tips. There’s also a grazing table of charcuterie and Italian cheese to snack on during the tasting, and a light dinner served afterwards. An exceptional night out for wine lovers.
Mille Vini, Surry Hills - Credit: Kitti Gould
Bibo Wine Bar
Where: Double Bay
With one of the best wine lists in the city, Bibo has long been the place to go for a glass of something special. Each month, they take things up a notch with exclusive tasting events and special dinners where you can sample a range of wines from a particular region or vineyard. You’ll also get to meet the winemakers and try new release wines you won’t find anywhere else.
bibo wine bar, Double Bay - Credit: bibo wine bar
Coogee Wine Room
Where: Coogee
Just steps from the sand, Coogee Wine Room has become the go-to spot for a glass of something delicious any time of day. To go deeper into the wine experience, book in for one of their regular Cellar Door@Coogee Wine Tasting Dinners. The team brings winemakers from Australia and around the world to the bar for an exclusive guided tasting and four-course meal.
Coogee Wine Room, Coogee
