NSW Winter Cellar Door 2026
Boutique wines, passionate people and discoveries worth sharing
Winter has a way of bringing wine lovers together, and NSW Winter Cellar Door 2026 did exactly that.
Held at Sydney’s iconic Carriageworks, the event brought together boutique producers from across New South Wales. It gave wine lovers the chance to meet the people behind the labels, hear their stories and taste wines from every corner of the state without leaving Sydney.
We’re grateful to our partners at NSW Wine for inviting us along and helping us share the experience with our audience through a ticket giveaway. A special thanks to Matt Jessop and Bec Watson for making it happen.
Events like this remind us why we love Australian wine. Every bottle has a story, every producer has a different journey and every conversation offers something new to learn.
Wines we’ll be talking about for a while
Some wines impress immediately. Others stay with you long after you’ve left the tasting bench.
Scarborough’s The Obsessive Chardonnay was one of those wines. Bright citrus, beautiful restraint and effortless balance made it a standout from the Hunter Valley.
We also had the chance to taste something special thanks to Jenna from De Iuliis. The 2019 Talga Road Vineyard Shiraz is entering a beautiful stage of its life. Rich fruit, savoury spice and fine tannins came together beautifully. It’s drinking wonderfully now, with plenty of years still ahead.
One of the biggest surprises came from Rylstone. De Beaurepaire’s 2017 Victor Cabernet Sauvignon, the current release, was outstanding. Elegant from the first sip, it delivered classic Cabernet character with remarkable freshness and phenomenal length. Every glass revealed another layer.
These were wines that didn’t need to shout. They simply spoke for themselves.
The conversations that made the day
Great wine always starts with great people. That’s what makes NSW Winter Cellar Door different. The winemakers are standing behind every bottle, ready to share the decisions, challenges and passion behind each vintage.
One of Trent’s favourite discoveries came from Lambs Valley Wines. Winemaker David & Clare Macdougal poured a sparkling that immediately impressed, but it was the Ambergris Skin Contact Pinot Gris that stole the show. Textural, savoury and wonderfully thought-provoking, it challenged everything we expected from Pinot Gris.
We also enjoyed catching up with Peter Valeri from Via Pola Wines. His vision for Riverland is refreshing. Instead of following the region’s large-scale reputation, Peter is embracing Italian varieties and producing boutique wines full of personality. The Monte was vibrant, delicious and made for the table.
Another memorable stop was Colmar Estate. Named after the picturesque town in France’s Alsace region, the winery draws inspiration from both its grape varieties and winemaking philosophy. The influence is clear throughout the range, producing wines with elegance and a real sense of place.
We also spent time tasting with Sarah Shrapnel, whose Rieslings continue to impress. Precise, expressive and beautifully balanced, her wines are another reminder of the incredible quality coming from Australia’s cool-climate regions.
These conversations are why we keep coming back. Wine is never just what’s in the glass. It’s the people willing to share their stories.
You never stop discovering
One of the biggest takeaways from NSW Winter Cellar Door wasn’t a single wine. It was the reminder that New South Wales continues to surprise us.
After years of visiting cellar doors, attending tastings and meeting winemakers, it would be easy to think we’ve seen it all. The reality is quite the opposite. Every year, new producers emerge, familiar wineries release exciting new vintages and passionate winemakers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
That’s what makes this event so special. It’s not about ticking wineries off a list or revisiting the same labels year after year. It’s about discovering what’s new, tasting what’s changed and finding producers you may never have come across otherwise.
This year was no exception. We met winemakers we hadn’t crossed paths with before, tasted wines that challenged our expectations and revisited favourites through a fresh lens. Every conversation reminded us that NSW wine is constantly evolving.
If you’ve never been to NSW Wine Cellar Door events because you think you already know the wines, we’d encourage you to think again. There’s always another story to hear, another vintage to explore and another bottle waiting to become your new favourite.
Supporting local winemakers isn’t just about buying a bottle. It’s about celebrating the people, places and passion that continue to shape the future of NSW wine.
