The Wine Media Conference has partnered with four amazing wine regions in New South Wales, Australia to create once-in-a lifetime post-conference excursion experiences. These excursions allow the participants to go beyond the conference and immerse themselves in local wine regions, learning about culture, terroir, local viticulture, and the history of the area.
All four of these excursion options will run October 13 – 15, following the conference. All four are in wine regions of New South Wales, allowing you to visit a second region in addition to the Hunter Valley without taking a long flight. We are working now on adding an excursion in a different state within Australia that will take place October 7 – 9, prior to the conference, with details coming soon.
Due to limited space, pre-conference and post-conference excursions are only open to registered conference attendees. To learn more about this year’s excursions or to register, please see our Post-Conference Excursions page. Each excursion is limited in numbers and registration is first come, first served.
Excursion Option One: Mudgee Wine Region
Home to over 35 cellar doors, the Mudgee Region is located about three hours west of the Hunter Valley and across the Great Dividing Range, Australia’s major mountain range. This gives the Mudgee region a distinctly different look and climate from the Hunter Valley. Mudgee is nestled in within surrounding hills and is primarily a producer of robust and deeply coloured red wines.
Excursion Option Two: Southern Highlands
Explore the closest wine region to Sydney, the beautiful Southern Highlands, known for its cultural heritage, small towns, and beautiful landscapes. The picturesque Highlands sits approximately 850 meters above sea level and within two hours of Sydney, Canberra and the Illawarra Coast. Specializing in sparkling wines, pinot gris and pinot noir, this region consists of 17 family owned and run boutique wineries and over 60 vineyards. This is a true cool-climate region with one of the latest harvest dates in Australia.
Excursion Option Three: Riverina
The Riverina wine region in New South Wales, Australia is centered on the town of Griffith and surrounding villages of Yenda, Hanwood, Bilbul and Tharbogang as well as encompassing the small township of Leeton.
Its flat plains, bordered by the Cocoparra ranges, along with the rich soil, irrigation scheme, and a Mediterranean climate were the key factors in developing this wine region back in 1913. Over a hundred years later, many of Australia’s well-known family wineries still headquarter their operations here in the Riverina, making award winning wines and more alternative varieties.
Excursion Option Four: Orange
Orange is fast becoming known as one of Australia’s best wine districts, with local wines regularly winning national and international awards. This wine industry growth, in tandem with the continuing development of Orange’s already highly regarded gourmet restaurant and cafe culture, has bolstered the city’s reputation and the region’s growing status as a ‘food capital’.
Orange is about food and wine, but the “Orange 360” degree viewpoint shows you it’s also about the open countryside, country villages in Blayney and Cabonne shires, and sports tourism including bike travellers and bushwalking. On this excursion you’ll get to experience the Orange wine region in depth.